Williamsburg, KY – The Patriots picked up a run-rule victory over RV Tennessee Wesleyan on Wednesday afternoon 9-1. Cumberlands are now 7-3 on the season with four wins over teams ranked or receiving votes in the latest NAIA Coaches' Poll.
Kaitlyn Schofield earned her first win of the season in the circle moving to 1-1 on the season. The sophomore pitched 4 innings, giving up just one run off four hits while striking out three Bulldog batters. At the plate Carly Oliver finished 2-3 with a triple and scored two runs while Bailey Turnbow went 1-2 with 2 RBI and a stolen base. Maliyah Wilkins added a double for the only other extra base hit from UC on the day.
Cumberlands jumped on the Bulldogs early, batting around in the first inning for four runs. Amber Gainer started the rally with a hit by pitch, then stole second the first pitch of the next at bat. Marquila Howell followed in the two spot with a single, scoring Gainer from second. Oliver then was hit by a pitch to get on in her opening at bat. Wilkins drew a walk to load the bases for Turnbow, who walked to bring in Oliver from third. Amber Atkins followed with a sacrifice fly to make it 3-0 with two outs. Turnbow then stole second, forcing a bad throw from the Bulldogs catcher to score Wilkins for the fourth run of the inning. Abby Guinn then singled to right field, before Emma McDonald drew a walk to get back to the top of the order. However, the Pats stranded the bases loaded to end the inning with a 4-0 lead.
Schofield shut the Bulldogs down in the top of the second, giving UC a chance to add on in the bottom half. Oliver and J. Gainer earned singles but could not add to the lead. This changed in the third inning with Atkins reached first on a TWU error. Cloe Smith came in to run and moved to second after a sac bunt from Guinn. She then took advantage of a wild pitch to move to third, scoring on an A. Gainer grounder to short, putting UC up 5-0.
After the Bulldogs added a run of their own in the fourth, the Pats responded with three more runs of their own to take an 8-1 lead to the fifth. J. Gainer began the inning with a walk before Wilkins doubled to left field. Turnbow then singled to right center, scoring Gainer and Wilkins, as the right fielder misplayed the ball. Atkins then earned an infield single, before UC loaded the bases as Guinn reached on an error. McDonald did a job as the next batter, hitting a deep flyball to score Turnbow from third. Ryan Livingston then came to the plate and got her first collegiate hit with a single to right field. The freshman was stranded along with Guinn to end the inning up 8-1.
After a leadoff walk to the Bulldogs, the pats called on Cassidy Gentry to enter the circle. Gentry delivered, getting a groundball to Guinn at short who stepped on the bag and fired to first for a double play. Gentry then fielded a groundball herself for the final out of the top of the fifth. The Patriots wasted no time in the bottom half as Oliver led off with a triple off the left center field wall. Jade Gainer then followed with another sacrifice fly, scoring Oliver to earn the run-rule victory.
The third-ranked Patriots will now look ahead to this weekend where they will host a three-game series against Rio Grande, who are also receiving votes in the latest NAIA Coaches Poll. UC will play at 1 PM and 3 PM on Saturday, and at 1 PM Sunday.
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