Williamsburg, KY – The Patriots came up short in the third and final game of their weekend series against the sixth ranked Madonna University Crusaders, moving to 2-1 on the season. UC tried to rally late but could not make it happen as they dropped the contest 8-5. The Pats had opportunities to get themselves within striking distance but could not take advantage as they left eight runners on base throughout the game.
Kaitlyn Schofield got the nod for UC and pitched 5 innings, striking out four, but gave up six hits and five earned for the loss. Destry Lambert and Lindsey Shope came in for one inning of relief each. Jade Gainer led the charge at the plate, going 1-3 with four RBI's, including UC's first homerun of the season, a two-run blast in the bottom of the seventh. Marquila Howell went 2-3 with a pair of runs scored while Carly Oliver finished with a hit, walk, and one RBI as well.
Schofield pitched a quick first inning, giving UC a chance to jump out to a quick lead. They did just that as Amber Gainer led off with a HBP, then swiped second. Howell and Oliver followed with walks to load the bases with no outs. J. Gainer then came to the plate and delivered an RBI sacrifice fly that scored her sister. The Crusaders answered with two quick outs, stranding a pair of Patriot runners in scoring position.
MU carried that momentum to the plate, scoring two runs to take a 2-1 lead into the third inning. The Crusaders threatened again with runners on the corners in the third, but Schofield got out of the jam with a ground ball to third to end the inning. Both teams continued to play solid defense before the Pats saw back-to-back one-out singles from Amber Atkins and Bailey Turnbow in the bottom of the fourth. However, UC could not capitalize, stranding two more baserunners.
The fifth inning saw Madonna add four insurance runs in the top half as they strung a couple of hits together and took advantage of a Patriot error. In the bottom half, A. Gainer drew a walk with one out followed by a double from Howell, moving Gainer to third. After an MU pitching change, Oliver ripped one up the middle for an RBI single. With runners on the corners, J. Gainer did a job and scored Howell on a grounder that moved Oliver to second as well, making it a 6-3 ballgame.
Lambert took over in the circle for UC in the sixth, getting two straight flyouts to start the inning. She walked the third batter but got another fly ball to end the inning with no harm done. Cumberlands threatened in the bottom of the sixth as Kristen Smith earned a pinch-hit walk. Aniyah White followed with a single down the right field line that moved Smith to third. White tried to take an extra base, but the Crusaders defense made a play for the second out of the inning. Emma McDonald extended the inning with a walk of her own to put runners on the corners once again for UC and bring the top of the lineup up to bat. UC again came up empty, flying out in foul territory to end the inning.
Lambert began the seventh with two walked batters, forcing UC to bring in Lindsey Shope for her second appearance of the season. The senior gave up a single to her first batter, then walked the second as one run scored. She then got a ground ball for an out in exchange for another run, bringing Madonna's lead to 8-3. Shope fielded a grounder then got a flyout to end the inning, giving her squad a chance in the bottom of the seventh.
Howell led off the inning with her second hit of the day, and advanced to second on a misplay by the MU left fielder. Oliver then lined out to right field, allowing Howell to tag up to third. Jade Gainer followed with a big fly over the left field fence, making it 8-5. After a ground out, Turnbow reached on an infield error, but UC's rally ended a batter later as they fell 8-5.
Cumberlands earned a 2-1 series win over the sixth-ranked Crusaders after a pair of victories on Saturday. The Pats now look ahead to next weekend where they will host the Ice-Burg Classic. UC will take on Trinity Christian College on Friday the 14th at 12:30 PM, followed by double-headers with UNOH and Cleary on Saturday and Sunday.
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