Williamsburg, KY – In game one of the Mid-South Conference series against Bethel University (14-12, 2-4), the ninth-ranked Patriots (26-6, 7-0) secured a 6-3 victory on Friday afternoon at Doyle Buhl Stadium. The UC offense scored six runs on 14 hits, while the pitching staff allowed just three runs on seven hits.
 
Kailen Hamson now holds a 6-0 record on the season after throwing seven strong innings, allowing three runs on seven hits with seven strikeouts. The left-handed pitcher opened the game by striking out the first four batters he faced. JD Price picked his fourth save of the season after entering in the eight inning and recording the final six outs. Price did not allow a single run across two innings pitched and struck out two.  
 
At the plate, Alec Gonzalez led the team, finishing 3-for-4 with a home run, double, and three runs scored. Christian Thompson went 3-for-5, recording a triple and one run scored. Trent Prokes also notched three hits, collecting three singles and 2 RBI's.
 
After a scoreless opening frame, UC plated one run to take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second. With one-out, Alec Gonzalez hit a solo home run to left field to put Cumberlands on the board first, his sixth homer of the season.
 
In the top of the fourth inning, the Wildcats had their first chance to get on the board but were denied as Trent Prokes threw out the runner from right field trying to score.  
 
Cumberlands added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth to extend its lead to 3-0. After the first two outs of the inning were recorded, Alec Gonzalez singled up the middle and then stole second to put himself into scoring position. Next at-bat, Edwin Martinez singled to right field, scoring Gonzalez from second. Martinez quickly stole second before scoring on a Trent Prokes RBI single to right field.
 
In the top of the fifth inning, Bethel tied the ballgame at 3-3 with three runs on four hits.
 
UC responded in the bottom of the seventh to regain the lead at 5-3. Christian Thompson led off the inning with a triple, followed by an intentional walk to Charlie Muniz, quickly put runners on the corners with nobody out. Derick Andiarena reached on a fielder's choice to drive in a run and put Cumberlands back in front. Couple of batters later, Pedro Vasquez reached on a fielder's choice of his own to score Jay Flynn, who came into pinch run.
 
Cumberlands tacked on one more insurance run in the bottom of the eighth to pull away. Gonzalez doubled to begin the inning and advanced to third on a ground out. Prokes stepped up to the plate and singled to left field, finalizing the 6-3 score.
 
The #9 Patriots will face Bethel in a double header to complete the Mid-South Conference series on Saturday March 29^th, beginning at 1 p.m. at Doyle Buhl Stadium.
 
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