Columbia, KY – The fourth-ranked Patriots complete their second-straight MSC series sweep with two run-rule victories over the Blue Raiders on Saturday. UC won the first game of the day 12-2 in five innings, and game two 8-0 to move to 19-6 on the season, and 6-0 in MSC play. The two wins today gave Head Coach Bailey Dillender and Assistant Alyssa Richards their 250^th win as a Patriot.
 
UC's bats were on fire in Columbia as they combined for 28 hits, eight doubles and five homeruns. Carly Oliver went 4-7 with a pair of homeruns on the day while Jade Gainer also went 4-7 with a HR, 2B, and 5 RBI's. Maliyah Wilkins went 5-7 in the cleanup spot with a pair of doubles and a homerun. Amber Gainer rounded out UC's homerun hitters on the day, and finished with five hits in the leadoff spot as well. Game one of the day featured four of the five UC homeruns, while the Pats combined for six doubles in game two.
 
In the circle, Jessica Cord earned the complete game victory in the opening game. She finished with 5 IP, 5 H, and 2 R to move to 8-2 on the season. Lindsey Shope got the win in the second game throwing five scoreless innings while giving up just three hits to move to 9-2 on the season. Kaitlyn Schofield came in for the sixth inning and struck out two of the three batters to secure the victory.
 
Long Ball Leads Pats to Big Win
UC wasted no time as A. Gainer led off the top of the first with a homer to center field. Oliver then singled and stole second followed by a walk from Wilkins. Bailey Turnbow came to the plate next and singled to left field, scoring Oliver and moving Wilkins to scoring position. J. Gainer then followed in her sisters' footsteps, hitting a homerun of her own to give UC a 5-0 lead after one.
 
Cord gave up one hit in the bottom half but stranded the runner after getting a grounder to short to end the inning. The Pats carried this momentum into the second inning where A. Gainer led off the inning with a single and stole second a batter later. Emma McDonald then reached on an infield single, bringing Wilkins to the plate with runners on first and second. The freshman delivered with a three-run shot over the right-center field wall to give UC an 8-0 lead after two.
 
After the Blue Raiders scratched two runs across in the second, the Patriots responded with four more runs in the fourth to extend their lead to 10. A. Gainer recorded her third hit of the game to get the leadoff runner on and stole second once again. After moving to third on a grounder from McDonald, Oliver stepped up and belted one to center field for another UC homerun. Wilkins continued the rally with a double and scored off a single from J. Gainer. Amber Atkins then hit a double of her own to score Gainer as UC took the 12-2 lead.
 
Cord continued to do work in the circle, sitting five straight LWC batters down in the fourth and fifth innings. After giving up a two-out hit in the bottom of the fifth, she got the next batter to hit a weak grounder that she picked up herself and threw to first to complete the five-inning run-rule victory.
 
Pats Bats Stay Hot in 8-0 Shutout
After a scoreless first inning on both sides, Wilkins led off the second with a single through the left side. Turnbow then reached on a fielders choice, and scored off a double from, J. Gainer to get the Pats on the board. Aniyah White then singled to center to score Gainer for the second run of the inning.
 
UC threatened again in the fourth with a single from J. Gainer and double from White, but both runners were stranded in scoring position as UC held a steady 2-0 advantage into the fifth. Oliver added one more to UC's total with a solo shot for her second homer of the day. Wilkins and Turnbow followed with back-to-back doubles to score one more and make it 4-0 in favor of UC.
 
Shope pitched another scoreless inning in the fifth, giving UC's bats a chance to add more runs. They did just that as Ryann Livingston started a two-out rally with a double to center field. The freshman advanced to third off a single from A. Gainer, and both runners scored after McDonald laced a double passed the center fielder. After intentionally walking Oliver to put runners on first and second, Wilkins singled and drove in McDonald to extend the lead to seven. Turnbow then earned another RBI with a single of her own, scoring Oliver and putting UC in run-rule territory up by eight runs.
 
Cumberlands called on Kaitlyn Schofield in the sixth to close out the game. After getting a pop up in her first at-bat, she gave up a single to give LWC their first base runner of the inning. Schofield then struck out the next two batters to seal the win and the series sweep.
 
UC will be back in action on Wednesday as they host Union Commonwealth at home. The double header will begin at 4 PM ET.
 
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