Williamsburg, KY – After trailing by two runs heading into in the bottom of the seventh, the ninth-ranked Patriots scored six runs in the bottom of the seventh to knock off #5 Tennessee Wesleyan, 12-10, on Tuesday afternoon at Doyle Buhl Stadium. UC emerged victorious despite being outhit by the Bulldogs 15-11. Cumberlands improves to 33-6 on the season, while extending its winning streak to 12.
 
At the plate, Max Harper finished the game 3-for-4 with a home run, double, walk, and an RBI. Charlie Muniz delivered the biggest play of the game with a gland slam to give Cumberlands the lead. Edwin Martinez went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI.
 
On the mound, Stuart Tharle got the start for UC. The right-handed pitcher threw 2.1 innings, allowing five runs on five hits and striking out four. Ben Rohrbach was the first arm out of the bullpen, giving up just two runs with three strikeouts across 3.2 innings of work. Jake Kmiecik (3-0) replaced Rohrbach and was credited with the win. The graduate student was strong in relief, throwing 2.1 innings and striking out three. JD Price entered the game in the bottom of the ninth to record the final two outs, picking up his sixth save of the season.
 
After a scoreless first frame, UC grabbed an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second. Harper led the inning off with a double. Couple of batters later, Martinez hit an RBI-single to center field to plate Harper. Trent Prokes followed with a single to right field, placing runners on the corners with two outs. Caden Petrey drew a walk, while Martinez came into score on a wild pitch. Christian Thompson then singled to second base, but a throwing error by the Bulldogs allowed Martinez to score the third run of the inning.
 
Tennessee Wesleyan responded right away in their next-at, scoring six runs on six hits in the top of the third to take a 6-3 lead.
 
In the bottom of the frame, UC was able to get a run back courtesy of a Max Harper solo home run, his eighth of the season to make it 6-4.
 
The Patriots evened the score at 6-6 with two more runs in the bottom of the fourth. Martinez led off with a single, followed by a Prokes walk to put two runners aboard. Another wild pitch led to a UC run as Martinez scored from third. With two outs, Derick Andiarena hit an RBI-double down the left field line, scoring Prokes.
 
The Bulldogs regained the lead with a run in the top of the sixth, giving them a 7-6 advantage.
 
In the top of the seventh, Tennessee Wesleyan added another run to make it an 8-6 ballgame.
 
Down to their final nine outs, the UC bats came alive in the bottom of the seventh, bringing in six runs on just one hit. UC quickly put two runners on base after Harper and Pedro Vasquez drew back-to-back walks. Alec Gonzalez made it three straight with a walk of his own to load the bases with nobody out. After the first out of the inning was recorded, Zamaurion Hatcher drew a walk to bring in a run, reducing the deficit to 8-7. Cumberlands was able to tie the game at 8-8 on another wild pitch. Thomspon extended the inning with a walk to bring up Muniz. With two outs and the bases loaded in a tie ballgame, Muniz came up clutch by delivering a grand slam to left field, giving the Pats a 12-8 lead.
 
The Bulldogs would plate two more runs in the top of the ninth, but it was not enough as the Patriots held on for a 12-10 win.
 
Cumberlands will travel to Columbia, KY this weekend for an MSC series against Lindsey Wilson beginning on Saturday April 12^th.
 
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