Williamsburg, KY – The Patriots fought back to force extra innings in Saturday, but came up just short to the Red Storm of Rio Grande, 6-5. UC's defense struggled at times, finishing with four errors, each leading to Rio runs. Cumberlands move to 8-5 overall on the year.
Bailey Turnbow led the Pats at the plate going three for four with a double and two RBI's while Marquila Howell finished the day two for four with a triple and two runs scored. Lindsey Shope got the start and went two innings before Kaitlyn Schofield entered in relief for five and a third innings pitched. Cassidy Gentry had her name called to close out the top of the eighth inning for her
After a quick top of the first, the Patriots stuck first off an RBI single from Turnbow. Jade Gainer started with a single and stole second, then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Two batters later, Turnbow smoked a ball through the infield to give UC the early 1-0 lead.
Shope went one, two, three in the top of the second, giving UC a chance to extend their lead. Aniyah White singled and moved into scoring position with a stolen base the next batter. She then advanced to third off a single from Ryann Livingston, and scored one batter later off another single, this time from Carly Oliver, to put the Pats up by two runs.
Rio Grande took advantage of multiple Patriot defensive miscues in the third, scoring four unearned runs. Schofield took over for Shope and did not give up another run, keeping the score at 4-2 in favor of the Red Storm. Rio added one more in the fourth off another Patriot error to extend the lead to three after four innings of play.
The top of the fifth saw Schofield get two quick groundouts and strike out the final batter to get her team back in the dugout. Howell then tripled with one out, and scored a batter later from a Jade Gainer sacrifice fly. Maliyah Wilkins then singled and moved to third after a Turnbow double to put runners on second and third with two outs. UC couldn't get either run across, as the fifth inning ended with Rio still leading 5-3.
After a scoreless sixth, Schofield went three-up-three-down in the top half o give UC a chance in the bottom of the seventh. Howell hit a single to right field with one out to give UC their first baserunner of the inning. Wilkins then hit a laser at the shortstop, which found it's way to the outfield, scoring Howell from first and giving UC a runner in scoring position, down one. Turnbow then came up big once again with her second RBI of the day, singling through the left side to even the score at 5-5, forcing extra innings.
The Red Storm took advantage of the international tie breaker, moving their runner on second over with a groundball to the right side, then scoring off a hit the next batter. Gentry then came into pitch and earned two fly balls to get UC out of the inning down one. UC could not respond in the bottom half as they fell to RV Rio Grande 6-5.
Cumberlands will be back tomorrow for a rescheduled double header with UNOH. First pitch of game one will be at 1 PM ET with game two following at 3 PM.
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