Shawnee, OK – The Patriots finished the NAIA SB Invitational going 1-1 with a win over RV Grand View and a loss to #2 University of Science and Arts. They finish the weekend 2-2 and move to 6-3 overall on the season.
Jessica Cord put together an impressive outing in the circle, earning the complete game win over GVU while only allowing one run. Lindsey Shope dropped her first game of the year, moving to 3-1 after four starts. At the plate, Marquila Howell and Carly Oliver both posted two RBI's over the two games while Amber Gainer, Maliyah Wilkins, and Aniyah White batted a run in as well.
UC Drop to #2 USAO, 10-2
The Drovers jumped on UC early, scoring six runs in the first two innings to take a commanding lead out of the gate. UC threatened in the second inning after a triple from Bailey Turnbow and a walk from Jules Johnson to put runners on the corners. However, USAO pitched their way out of the jam to keep the 6-0 lead into the third.
Kaitlyn Schofield came into the game and went three-up-three-down in the bottom of the third utilizing a double play as Ryann Livingston caught a fly ball in center field and fired the ball back to first base before the runner could get back, swinging the momentum into the Pats favor. UC then saw Turnbow and Abby Guinn draw walks but left them both stranded as USAO still led 6-0 into the bottom of the fourth.
Schofield held the Drovers at bay in the fifth, before Howell beat out an infield single to get a runner on for Oliver. Carly Oliver then hit her second homerun of the weekend over the left field wall to make it a four-run game in the fifth. This was not enough, as USAO tacked on four more runs in the bottom half to take the run-rule victory.
Pats Finish Tourney with a Win over RV Grand View
The second game of the day started much like the first, as the Vikings scored early to take a 1-0 lead after one. Jessica Cord then held GVU scoreless over the next three innings, striking out a pair of Vikings hitters in the process.
In the top of the fifth, Kaysee Dale started a two-out rally with a single down the left field line. Amber Gainer followed with a double off the left field wall as Dale moved to third. Marquila Howell then stepped in the box and slapped a ball to deep right center field, scoring both runners and finishing with a triple to give UC their first lead of the day. Oliver then came up and singled down the line to score Howell and put the Pats up 3-1.
In the bottom of the frame Grand View put two runners in scoring position, but Cord came away with a huge strikeout to strand both runners and keep UC in the lead. Cumberlands then added two insurance runs in the sixth. Wilkins began the inning with a hit by pitch before the Pats called on Cloe Smith to pinch run for the DP. Smith swiped second a batter later to move into scoring position, then scored off a single from Aniyah White. Dale then earned her second hit of the game to put two runners on for Amber Gainer who doubled to left centerfield to score White from second and make the score 5-1 in favor of the Patriots.
Cord continued stay in her rhythm getting three straight outs in the bottom of the sixth, giving her offense a chance to add a few more runs in the final inning. They took advantage of this opportunity and scored one more off great baserunning from Jade Gainer who doubled, then scored from second on a ground ball in the infield. Cord came back out to earn the complete game, getting a ground ball to Oliver for the final out of the game.
UC will now head back home and prepare for a matchup with Tennessee Wesleyan on Wednesday the 26th. First pitch is scheduled for 2 PM ET in Williamsburg, Ky.
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