Williamsburg, KY – The #5 Patriots (12-2) defeated Rochester Christian (1-3) in both games of the doubleheader, 22-4 and 19-2, on Saturday afternoon at Doyle Buhl Stadium. Across two games, UC outscored the Warriors 41-6 and recorded ten homeruns in the process.
No. 5 Cumberlands Notches Six Homeruns to Defeat Rochester Christian, 22-4
Wesley Culley (2-0) took the start on the mound in game one, pitching five full innings. The left-handed pitcher was credited with the win, tossing a season-high 11 strikeouts of the 18 batters he faced and allowed zero runs on two hits.
It was a full team effort at the plate for UC at the plate. In the first game of the double header,
Trent Prokes hit 3-for-4 with two homeruns and 4 RBI as the designated hitter.
Max Harper batted 3-for-3 with a homerun, two walks, and 4 RBI. Charlie Muñiz went 3-for-3 in the game. The catcher notched a homerun and 2 RBI.
In the bottom of the first, UC jumped out to an early 1-0 lead. With one out, Muniz hit a single up the middle and was pinch run for by
Zamaurion Hatcher. Andiarena then singled, followed by a Harper walk to load the bases.
Pedro Vasquez was able to bring in Hatcher on a fielder's choice.
Cumberlands extended their lead to 6-0 in the bottom of the second with five runs on three hits. Prokes singled with one out and advanced to third on a single by Thompson. Muñiz was then hit by a pitch to load the bases with two down. Next at-bat, Andiarena walked to bring in the first run of the frame. With the bases still loaded, Harper stepped up to the plate and drove a deep shot over the fence in left for a grand slam, his third homerun of the season.
In the bottom of the third frame,
Caden Petrey launched a two-run homerun to left field to take the score to 8-0.
The UC bats came alive again in the bottom of the fourth, scoring 11 runs on ten hits. Muniz led the inning off with a solo shot to left field. Cumberlands notched three consecutive singles with the third one from Vasquez to drive in a run. Next at-bat,
Alec Gonzalez delivered with a three-run homerun to left center, increasing the UC lead to 13-0. One batter later, Prokes hit a solo homerun to left center to tally another run. Following a Thompson double down the left field line, Muniz singled through the left side to score Thompson and the score was 15-0. Andiarena continued his hot stretch at the plate with another RBI hit, this time a double into the right center gap. Couple of batters later, Gonzalez drew a bases loaded walk to plate Andiarena.
Jaylen Jones and Prokes followed with walks of their own to cap off an 11-run inning, making the score 19-0.
Rochester Christian put two up on the board in the top of the sixth on a two-run homer to make it a 19-2 ballgame.
The Patriots responded with three more runs in the bottom of the frame. After a leadoff single from Jones, Prokes hit a two-run homerun to right field, his second of the game.
Jake Kmiecik came in to pinch hit for Vasquez and recorded an RBI on a sacrifice fly, the lead was now 22-2.
The Warriors tacked on two more in the top of the seventh on two runs and three hits before
Willis McCarter recorded the final out on a groundout to third.
No. 5 Cumberlands Rolls Past Rochester Chirstian, 19-2
Starting pitcher,
Knicko Billings (2-1), went 5.0 innings and was credited with the win. The senior allowed just two runs on three hits while striking out a season-high seven batters.
Ben Rohrbach and
Drew Dugger followed in relief and combined for zero runs on one hit with four strikeouts.
At the plate, all nine starters recorded a hit in game two. Charlie Muñiz went 3-for-5 with two homeruns, one double, and four RBI.
Max Harper batted 2-for-4 with two doubles, a walk, and two runs scored.
Christian Thompson hit 1-for-2, recording a homerun, two walks, and three RBI.
Once again, the Pats got to an early lead in the bottom of the first. Following a leadoff walk by Thompson,
Derick Andiarena blasted a two-run homerun to give Cumberlands a 2-0 advantage, his second of the season.
In the bottom of the second, the Patriots increased their lead to 9-0 with a seven-run inning.
Ben Snapp walked, and
Clay Shelton singled to put runners on the corners with one out. Snapp would then score on a single from Petrey and the score was 3-0. Next batter, Thompson lifted one over the left field fence for a three-run homerun, his second of the season. Muniz made it back-to-back homeruns with a solo shot to center field. Vasquez brought in two more with a double to make it 9-0 in favor of the Patriots.
Rochester Christian scored their only runs in the game in the top of the fourth to cut the deficit, 9-2. UC responded quickly again in their next at-bat, this time collecting nine runs on four hits. Vasquez recorded an RBI groundout, and Gonzalez notched an infield single to plate two runs. Gonzalez would later score on a passed ball to make the score 12-2. Third baseman,
Caden Petrey, hit a sacrifice fly to left field to plate another run. After a Thompson walk, Muñiz did it again with a three-run homerun to deep centerfield, his second of the game, extending the lead to 16-2. Couple of batters later, Gonzalez recorded another RBI on a bases loaded walk. Snapp then drew a walk of his own to score Harper increase the lead, 18-2.
The final run was scored by
Jaylen Jones on a passed ball to make it 19-2.
Cumberlands will be back in action tomorrow for another doubleheader against Rochester Christian beginning at noon ET.
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