Williamsburg, KY – The fifth-ranked UC Baseball team combined for 19 runs while allowing just six in a two-game sweep over Midway on Sunday at Doyle Buhl Stadium. The Patriots defeated Midway 7-1 in game one before beating the Eagles 12-5 in the second game. With the wins, Cumberlands extends their winning streak to seven and improves to 9-1 overall on the season.
 
 
GAME ONE: No 5. Cumberlands Pitching Staff Dominates in Win over Midway, 7-1
Knicko Billings (1-1) got off to a strong start for UC on the mound and picked up his first win of the season. The senior threw 6.0 innings while striking out a pair and allowing just one run on two hits. Charlie Muniz and Max Harper both notched multiple hits in the game, while Alec Gonzalez added a homerun and two RBI. Second baseman Ben Snapp also drove in two.
 
UC jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Christian Thompson and Muniz recorded back-to-back doubles to lead off the inning and bring in the first run of the day. After the first out of the inning was recorded, Max Harper hit an RBI single up the middle to score Martinez who ran for Muniz. Pedro Vasquez singled in his first at-bat of the day and then Derick Andiarena walked to load the bases. Next at-bat, Snapp reached on a fielder's choice to plate the third run of the inning.
 
After loading the bases again in the bottom of the third, Snapp reached first on an error by the second baseman to score the fourth run of the game. The Pats scored again on a wild pitch to make it 5-0.
 
The Eagles brought in their only run of the game in the top of the fourth on an RBI double to cut the lead to 5-1.
 
The UC pitching staff settled in after that, not allowing another hit for last three innings and striking out three.
 
Cumberlands added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth to put this one out of reach. Alec Gonzalez hit a 2-run homerun to increase the lead to 7-1, his second of the season.
 
GAME TWO: No. 5 Patriots Utilize Six Run Eighth Inning to Pull Away from Midway, 12-5
Edwin Martinez hit a grand slam to right center to cap off a six run eighth inning for the Patriots to hold off Midway. Yannis Rembert also collected his first win of the season after tossing 5.1 shutout innings, allowing five hits and striking out two. Four Patriots had multi-hit games led by Christian Thompson, who went 4-for-5 with an RBI and three runs scored. Martinez and Muniz each recorded three hits with a combined eight RBI.
 
Once again, UC scored the first run of the game in their first at-bat. Thompson doubled to lead off the inning before advancing to third on a passed ball. With a runner on third and nobody out, Muniz hit an RBI single to left center to score Thompson, giving the Pats a 1-0 lead.
 
In the bottom of the second, Andiarena reached third on an error by the center fielder to lead things off. Next at-bat, Martinez roped an RBI single to extend the lead to 2-0 but was out trying to reach second.
 
The bats came alive for UC again in the bottom of the fourth. Martinez was hit by a pitch and then stole second to put himself into scoring position. One batter later, Petrey Doubled into the left center gap to score Martinez, making the score 3-0. Thompson then singled through the left side to drive in another run. Designated hitter Muniz followed with a double off the wall of center field to plate the third run of the inning and extend their lead to 5-0.
 
UC tacked on another run courtesy of a Max Harper homerun in the bottom of the fifth, his first of the season to make it 6-0.
 
The Eagles would not go away, scoring four runs in the top of the seventh to cut the deficit to 6-4.
 
Midway drove in another run on a homerun in the top of the eight to make it a one run ballgame, 6-5.
 
In the bottom of the frame, Cumberlands exploded in a big way, scoring six runs on four hits to melt this one away. Caden Petrey walked to begin the inning, followed by a Thompson single through the right side to put two runners on. That brough Charlie Muniz to the plate, where he singled to bring home pinch runner Jay Flynn. Next at-bat, Alec Gonzalez recorded a single of his own to plate another run. Following the first two outs of the inning, Derick Andiarena walked to load the bases for Martinez. Martinez took advantage, launching a grand slam to right center to bring in four more runs for the 12-5 final.  
 
UC will now travel to Athens, TN on Tuesday, February 25^th to take on #1 Tennessee Wesleyan.
 
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