Columbia, KY – The ninth-ranked UC Baseball team extended their winning streak to 15 games and improved to 12-0 in the Mid-South Conference with a pair of blowout wins on Sunday afternoon to secure the sweep over Lindsey Wilson. Cumberlands took game one 22-2, before emerging victorious in game two by a score of 22-8. The UC offense finishes the series with 57 runs scored, while the pitching staff only allowed 10 runs across three games.
No. 9 Cumberlands Powers Past Lindsey Wilson, 22-2
Derick Andiarena led the way for the Pats at the plate, batting 3-for-5 with three home runs and seven RBI's. Trent Prokes finished the game 3-for-4 with a home run and 4 RBI's. Charlie Muniz added a 4-for-4 performance with a pair of doubles and two RBI's.
Knicko Billings (8-1) got the start and was credited with his eighth win of the season and 25th of his career, moving to sixth all-time in program history. The right-hander threw five innings, allowing just two runs on one hit with six strikeouts. Jack Scrofano entered in relief, not allowing a hit across two scoreless innings pitched.
UC wasted no time, scoring six runs in the top of the first inning to grab a 6-0 lead. Christian Thompson led off the inning with an infield single, followed by a Muniz RBI-double to left center to score Thompson. Next at-bat, Derick Andiarena launched a two-run homer to left center. A couple of batters later, Prokes singled through the right side to bring in two more. Caden Petrey hit an RBI-sacrifice fly to plate another run.
Lindsey Wilson responded with two runs of their own in the bottom of the frame to cut the deficit, 6-2.
It was all UC the rest of the way in this one. Cumberlands put together a nine spot in their next at-bat to extend their lead to 15-2. Muniz hit a lead off single through the left side before being pinch run for by Zamaurion Hatcher. Andiarena then stepped up to the plate and recorded his second two-run home run of the game, giving the Pats an 8-2 advantage. A couple of batters later, Edwin Martinez doubled into the right center gap, plating two more runs to make it a 10-2 ballgame. Petrey followed with a two-run home run to left field to give UC a 12-2 lead. The Patriots would not let up as Andiarena proceeded to blast his third home run of the game and second of the inning, this time a three-run shot to left field, and the score was now 15-2.
In the top of the third inning, Cumberlands tacked on four more runs to extend the lead to 19-2. Back-to-back singles by Pedro Vasquez and Alec Gonzalez put two runners aboard. After the first out was recorded, Prokes singled to load the bases. Petrey was then hit by a pitch to bring in a run. Next at-bat, Thompson hit an RBI-double to left center, scoring Gonzalez and Prokes. Muniz added one more on an RBI-sacrifice fly.
The Patriots tacked on two more in the top of the fifth inning to make it 21-2 courtesy of a Prokes two-run home run.
Jose Valentin added another run in the seventh to finalize the game at 22-2.
No. 9 Cumberlands Finishes Off Lindsey Wilson, 22-8
At the plate, Charlie Muniz led the way with two homers and five RBI's in a 3-for-5 performance. Edwin Martinez batted 4-for-4 with a home run, double, and four RBI's. Derick Andiarena went 2-for-5, notching a homer and four RBI's.
On the mound, Jake Kmiecik (4-0) was credited with the win in relief. The senior pitched 3.0 innings, allowing just two runs on two hits with a strikeout. Cooper Morgan got the start in this one, giving up four runs with three strikeouts across 3.0 innings pitched. Wesley Culley made an appearance in the final frame and recorded a strikeout.
The Blue Raiders got on the board first with three runs on two hits in the bottom of the first to take a 3-0 lead.
In the top of the second inning, Cumberlands cut the deficit to 3-2 with a pair of runs. Gonzalez walked to lead off the inning before scoring on a Martinez two-run home run.
Lindsey Wilson responded in the bottom of the frame to make it 4-2.
The Patriots once again had an answer in the top of third. Muniz led things off with a solo home run to right field, making it a 4-3 ballgame. Andiarena then singled, followed by a Max Harper double to put two runners in scoring position. Gonzalez did his job with an RBI-ground out to tie the game at 4-4. Next at-bat, Martinez singled to left field, plating Harper to give the Pats a 5-4 lead.
In the top of the fourth inning, UC scored three more runs on three hits to extend their lead, 8-4. With two outs, Harper recorded an RBI-single to left field to bring in a run. Gonzalez followed with an RBI-single of his own to plate another run. Martinez continued his hot day at the plate with an RBI-double into the left center gap.
Cumberlands made it 10-4 with two more runs in the top of the fifth courtesy of a Muniz RBI-double and Andiarena RBI-sacrifice fly.
The Blue Raiders brought in a run in the bottom of the fifth, the score was now 10-5.
In the top of the sixth inning, the Pats widened their lead with a six spot. Prokes began the fireworks with a three-run home run to right field, extending the lead to 13-5. A couple of batters later, Andiarena hit his fourth home run of the day with a three-run shot of his own to give UC a 16-5 advantage.
Lindsey Wilson was able to get a run back in the bottom of the sixth, making it 16-6.
The bats came alive one final time for the Patriots with six more runs on five hits in the final frame. Clay Shelton notched an RBI-double to left field, followed by another run scored on a wild pitch. Thompson increased the lead to 19-6 with an RBI-single through the left side. Muniz wasn't done as he launched a three-run home run to center field, his second of the game, and the score was 22-6.
Lindsey Wilson would plate two more in the bottom of the seventh to finalize the game at 22-8.
The Patriots will look to continue their winning streak when they host Union College on Tuesday April 15th at Doyle Buhl Stadium. The first pitch is set for 5 p.m. ET.
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