Barbourville, KY – The No. 9 Patriots (25-6) took a 15-1, run-rule victory over Union (8-23), on Tuesday at Jerry Carey Stadium. UC batters compiled 15 runs on 19 hits and the pitching staff notched eight strikeouts. Charlie Muniz made history smashing his 101st career home run as he surpassed Pete Incaviglia of Oklahoma State to become the collegiate baseball home run leader.
At the plate, UC had four players tally three hits and three more with a pair. Max Harper finished 3-for-4 with a home run, double, three runs scored, and three RBI's. Shortstop, Alec Gonzalez, batted 3-for-4 with a double, three runs scored, and an RBI. Going 3-for-4, Derick Andiarena hit three singles and scored twice. Pedro Vasquez hit 3-for-5 with one RBI and two runs scored. Charlie Muniz added a pair of hits, including a home run and three RBI's.
Stuart Tharle (1-2) picked up his first win of the season after throwing six innings, not allowing a single run on four hits and six strikeouts. Logan Wombles entered in the final frame to record the final three outs, giving up just one run on three hits with two strikeouts in relief.
UC wasted no time as they drove in four runs in the top of the first. After the first two outs of the inning were recorded, Andiarena singled before scoring on a Harper double. Vasquez followed with a single to score Harper and make it 2-0. A couple of batters later, Trent Prokes hit a two-RBI single up the middle, giving the Pats a 4-0 advantage.
The bats came alive again in the top of the second for Cumberlands, plating six runs on five hits. Caden Petrey led the inning off with a double and advanced to third on a groundout. Muniz brought home Petrey from third with an RBI groundout. Andiarena got things started again with two outs, drawing a walk then stealing two bases to put himself into scoring position. Next at-bat, Harper blasted a two-run home run to left field, extending the lead to 7-0. UC quickly loaded the bases on an error, double, and a walk. Prokes delivered his second two-RBI single of the day to plate two more. Petrey brought in one more run on an RBI double, giving the Pats a 10-0 advantage.
In the top of the fourth inning, history was made as Charlie Muniz hit a solo home run for career number 101. The senior passed Pete Incaviglia to become the all-time career home run leader in college baseball history.
UC added two more runs in the top of the fifth on RBI's from Petrey and Muniz, making the score 13-0 in favor of the Pats.
In the top of the sixth inning, Cumberlands drove in another run to go up 14-0. Back-to-back singles from Harper and Vasquez put two runners on base to begin the frame. Alec Gonzalez did his job with an RBI groundout to shortstop.
Zamaurion Hatcher scored the final run of the game for the Pats with a pinch-hit solo home run to make it a 15-0 ballgame.
Union was able to score their only run in the game in the bottom of the seventh before the game ended due to run-rule.
Cumberlands will jump back into conference play as they host Bethel University (Tenn.) on Friday March 28th.
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