Williamsburg, KY – For the third consecutive season, the #7 Patriots secured the Mid-South Conference regular season crown after sweeping Campbellsville (27-16) on Saturday afternoon on senior day. Cumberlands opened the day with a dominate 21-5 victory in game one, followed by a 7-2 win in the second game of the doubleheader. Cumberlands improves to 40-6 on the season and 15-0 in conference play.
No. 7 Cumberlands Dominates Campbellsville, 21-5
In game one,
Knicko Billings (9-1) got the start and was credit with the win after throwing 5.0 innings, allowing just three runs with six strikeouts.
Carlos Valenzuela was first in relief, giving up two runs with two strikeouts in 0.2 innings of work.
Willis McCarter also pitched, not allowing a single hit or run with two strikeouts across 1.1 innings.
At the plate,
Alec Gonzalez led the way for the Pats, batting 3-for-4 with a there-run homer, walk, and five RBI's.
Max Harper finished the game 2-for-4, notching a home run, walk, and three runs batted in.
Trent Prokes went 1-for-2 with a home run and three RBI's.
Cumberlands got on the board quickly, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first to take a 3-0 lead.
Christian Thompson led off the inning with a walk, followed by a Charlie Muniz single to put the first two runners on base. After the first two outs were recorded, Gonzalez blasted a three-run homer to left center for the second consecutive day.
Campbellsville responded in their next at-bat, scoring two runs in the top of the second to cut the deficit to 3-2.
In the bottom of the frame, UC had a response of their own in a big way with nine runs on six hits.
Zamaurion Hatcher singled and Prokes was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second. Next at-bat,
Caden Petrey doubled down the left field line, scoring Hatcher and Prokes to give the Pats a 5-2 advantage. Back-to-back walks from Thompson and Muniz loaded the bases.
Derick Andiarena stepped up to the plate and delivered an RBI-single through the left side. Harper followed with an RBI-single of his own to make it 7.2 Gonzalez brought in two more on the third consecutive single of the inning, extending the lead to 9-2. One batter later, Hatcher recorded an RBI-ground out, plating Harper from third. Cumberlands tacked on two more courtesy of a Prokes two-run home run to right field, making it 12-2.
The UC bats were alive and well again in the bottom of the third with seven more runs. Thompson led off the inning with a single, then scored on a Muniz two-run home run to left field, and the score was now 14-2. Couple of batters later,
Edwin Martinez drove in a run on an RBI-single to left center, increasing the lead to 15-2. With the bases loaded, Prokes walked to plate another run. Next at-bat, Petrey hit a two-RBI single to center field, extending the lead to 18-2. Thompson added one more on a single down the right field line to make it a 19-2 ballgame.
After a scoreless fourth inning, the Tigers scored a run in the top of the fifth.
The Tigers added two more in the top of the sixth to cut the deficit to 19-5.
UC managed to score two runs of their own in the bottom of the frame on a Harper two-run home run to finalize the game at 21-5.
No. 7 Cumberlands Secures Sweep of Campbellsville, 7-2
Cooper Morgan (3-0) got the ball in the final game of the series and was impressive. The left-handed pitcher threw six innings, not allowing a run on five hits and four strikeouts.
Jake Kmiecik was strong in relief, pitching two innings while only giving up one hit with two strikeouts.
JD Price came in to pitch the final three outs for the Pats.
Caden Petrey had a monster game at the plate, recording two home runs in and six RBI's in a 3-for-4 performance. Charlie Muniz went 1-for-2 with a home run and two walks.
Once again, it was Cumberlands that got out to an early lead with a run in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, Muniz blasted his second homer of the day to make it 1-0 in favor of the Pats.
After two scoreless frames, the UC offense was at it again, scoring three runs to extend their lead to 4-0. Following a Prokes single and
Clay Shelton walk, Petrey delivered a three-run home run to left field.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, the Patriots were able to add some insurance runs on Petrey's second three-run homer of the game, extending the lead to 7-0.
Campbellsville brought in two runs in the top of ninth but it wouldn't be enough as the Pats held on for the 7-2 win.
Cumberlands will be back in action Tuesday for a midweek contest at Midway. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. ET.
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