Henderson, TN – The #9 Patriots finished off the sweep of Freed-Hardeman with two wins on Saturday at Five Wells Field. UC took game one, 12-1, followed by a 16-12 victory to improve to 6-0 in MSC play.
No. 9 UC Utilizes Offensive Explosion to defeat Freed-Hardeman, 12-1
Knicko Billings (5-1) was dominant on the mound for the Pats and was credited with the win. The senior threw 6.2 innings, allowing just one run on five hits and striking out eight. Mason Howard entered in relief to record the final out in the seven-inning contest.
The UC offense exploded for 12 runs, five home runs, and had eight of the nine starters record a hit. Charlie Muniz led the way, batting 4-for-5 with three home runs and five RBI's. Christian Thompson hit 3-for-5, notching a home run, two doubles, and two RBI's. Edwin Martinez went 1-for-5 with a grand slam.
Cumberlands grabbed an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Thompson hit a leadoff double, followed by a two-run home run by Muniz to center field.
After two scoreless frames, the UC bats came alive again in the top of the fourth with three runs on three hits. With one out, Caden Petrey notched a leadoff single to put a runner on. Next at-bat, Thompson launched a two-run homer to right field, his fourth to extend the lead to 4-0. Muniz made it back-to-back home runs with a solo shot to center field for his second of the game, giving the Pats a 5-0 advantage.
In the top of the sixth, UC opened the game up with five runs on four hits. Thompson led off the inning with a double into the left center gap, then scored on a Muniz single to left field. With two outs, Max Harper singled, Pedro Vasquez reached first on throwing error, and Alec Gonzalez walked to quickly load the bases. Edwin Martinez stepped up to the plate and hit a grand slam to left center, making it a 10-0 ballgame.
The Patriots added a pair of runs in the top of the seventh on a Muniz home run and a Gonzalez RBI single through the right side, and the score was now 12-0.
Freed-Hardeman scored their only run of the game in the bottom of the seventh to end the ballgame at 12-1.
No. 9 Cumberlands Wins High-Scoring Affair Over Freed-Hardeman, 16-12
Wesley Culley got the start in game two. Culley pitched 3.2 innings, allowing three earned runs on eight hits and striking out four. Jake Kmiecik earned his second win of the season in relief.
Christian Thompson was scorching hot at the plate, batting 5-for-6 with a triple, double, and five RBI's. Charlie Muniz hit 2-for-4 with a pair of home runs and three RBI's. Caden Petrey went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI's. Pedro Vasquez notched a three-run home run in the top of the sixth.
Freed-Hardeman got out to an early 2-0 lead with two runs in the bottom of the first.
Following two scoreless frames, UC got on the board with a solo home run from Muniz in the top of the fourth, making the score 2-1.
The Lions extended their lead to 4-1 in the bottom of the frame with two runs on two hits.
In the top of the fifth, Cumberlands took its first lead of the game at 5-4 with four runs on four hits. With one out, Edwin Martinez drew a walk, while Clay Shelton singled to put two runners on. Caden Petrey followed with an RBI-double to left field, scoring Martinez. Thompson followed with a double of his own to plate two more. A couple of batters later, Max Harper hit an RBI single to score Thompson.
The Patriots opened the game up in the top of the sixth. Alec Gonzalez walked, and Edwin Martinez singled to lead off the inning. Clay Shelton followed with an RBI single to bring in the first run of the frame. With the bases loaded, Thompson hit a three-RBI triple to make the score 9-4. Max Harper made it 10-4 on a fielder's choice. Next at-bat, Pedro Vasquez blasted a three-run homer to right field, increasing the lead to 13-4.
Freed-Hardeman got a run back in the bottom of the sixth to make it a 13-5 ballgame.
In the top of the seventh inning, UC added to its lead with three runs on homers by Caden Petrey and Charlie Muniz.
The Lions responded with five runs in the bottom of the seventh to make things interesting at 16-10.
Freed-Hardeman tacked on two more in the ninth, but it wasn't enough as the Patriots held on for a 16-12 win.
Cumberlands will return to the field on Tuesday March 25th against Union College. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. ET in Barbourville, KY.
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