Williamsburg, KY – Dominant pitching and late game hitting leads to a Patriot sweep over the University of Northwestern Ohio Racers. Lindsey Shope threw a complete game shutout in game one for a 4-0 victory while Jessica Cord earned the win in game two with a 2-1 win. The duo gave up just three hits combined over the 14 innings of work. Cumberlands are now 10-5 on the season.
Six different Patriots recorded in a hit in the opening game including a double from Maliyah Wilkins and triple out of Marquila Howell. UC's approach at the plate also earned 10 walks as Howell drew three herself followed by Ryann Livingston and Jade Gainer who earned two free passes a piece. Bailey Turnbow came through in the clutch in game two with a two-run homerun in the sixth inning to lift the Patriots over the Racers.
Shope Throws Complete Game Shutout in Game One
Shope started the game earning two groundouts before giving up her only hit of the game. She came right back for the third out of the inning, stranding the runner on third. UC built off that momentum to score first and take the lead after one. Jade Gainer reached on a fielder's choice then stole second a batter later. She then advanced to third and scored in a misplayed ball by the shortstop for the first run of the game.
Back in the circle, Shope earned six outs in a row to keep UC's lead at one. In the third, Marquila Howell and Gainer earned back-to-back walks, then stole second and third to move into scoring position. Wilkins then hit a ground ball to the right side, scoring Howell. Gainer tried to catch the defense sleeping but came up short as she was tagged out between third and home. Turnbow then singles and swiped second base. She moved to third off a batted ball from Emma McDonald, who was also safe after an error on the first baseman. UC continued to be aggressive on the basepaths, as McDonald stole second. Aniyah White then hit an infield single to score Turnbow to put UC up 3-0.
Three more scoreless innings from Shope in the circle kept UC's comfortable lead. Howell earned her third triple of the season in the sixth inning and scored one batter later off a single from Gainer. Wilkins followed with a double, but the Pats stranded the runner to take a 4-0 lead into the final inning.
Shope continued to dominate, fielding a groundball herself for the first out of the inning then striking out the second batter. After walking a Racer with two outs, she came back and got a grounder to third that Gainer fielded and fired to first for the final out of the inning.
Turnbow's Late Game Heroics Lifts Pats Over Racers 2-1
Neither team scored in the opening three innings of play, with Cord dominating in the circle for the Pats going through the opposing lineup with nine straight outs. UC battled in the box and put good swings together but could not find the gaps. UNOH then broke the streak, scratching a run across for their first lead of the day in the fourth.
Things turned around in the sixth inning as Wilkins started off with an infield single. Turnbow then came up clutch once again, smoking a two-run shot over the center field fence to give UC the 2-1 lead over the UNOH Racers.
Cord came back out for her final inning of work, and sat down the Racers one, two, three to secure the two-game sweep for the Patriots.
UC will complete their week at the Gulf Coast Invite where they will take on five teams all mentioned in the lates NAIA Coaches' Poll.
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