Williamsburg, KY – The ninth-ranked Patriots defeated Union Commonwealth (16-26) in run-rule fashion, 14-4, on Tuesday evening at Doyle Buhl Stadium. Cumberlands improves to 37-6 overall this season and extend their winning streak to 16 games. The win today gave Head Coach
Brad Shelton his 900
th win at UC.
UC bats were on fire once again for the Pats as they combined for 18 hits, two home runs, and three doubles.
Pedro Vasquez finished the game 2-for-4 with a home run, stolen base, and four RBI's.
Caden Petrey went a perfect 3-for-3, notching a homer, walk, and two RBI's.
Alec Gonzalez batted 3-for-5 with a double and 3 runs batted in.
On the mound,
Stuart Tharle (3-2) got the start and was credited with the win. The right-handed pitcher allowed four runs with three strikeouts across 4.0 innings pitched.
Wesley Culley came on in relief and threw 3.0 innings, not allowing a single run on two hits and five strikeouts.
After a scoreless first two frames, Union got on the board first with two runs in the top of the third to take a 2-0 lead.
The Patriots responded quickly, scoring seven runs in the bottom of the frame to gain a 7-2 advantage.
Caden Petrey led off the inning with a solo home run to left center, his 12
th of the season.
Christian Thompson followed with an infield single. After the first two outs of the inning were recorded,
Max Harper walked, and
Pedro Vasquez was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Next at-bat,
Alec Gonzalez delivered a two-RBI single up the middle to put the Pats in front. Vasquez would then score on a wild pitch. Following a walk and a stolen base for
Edwin Martinez,
Trent Prokes hit a two-RBI single to center field, plating Gonzalez and Martinez. Thompson added one more run on an infield single.
In the top of the fourth inning, the Bulldogs scored two runs on three hits to cut the deficit to 7-4.
Cumberlands answered once again, this time with three runs. MSC Player of the Week,
Derick Andiarena, doubled down the left field line to begin the inning, then stole third. After a Harper walk, Vasquez launched a three-run homer to right center, extending the lead to 10-4.
UC tacked on a run in both the fifth and sixth innings to make it a 12-4 ballgame. In the bottom of the fifth, Vasquez drove in a run on a throwing error by the third baseman. Petrey plated another run with an RBI-single to center field in the sixth.
The Patriots would add two more in the bottom of the seventh to secure the run-rule victory, 14-4. Harper drew a leadoff walk, followed by a Vasquez single to put two runners on. Next at-bat, Gonzalez doubled to left field, scoring Harper from second. Martinez drove in the final run of the game on a single to right field, plating Vasquez.
UC will be back in action on Friday as they host (RV) Campbellsville at home for game one of the series. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. ET.
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