Williamsburg, KY – The Patriots utilized a big first inning to win the first game of the 2025 Softball NAIA Opening Round – Williamsburg Bracket. UC took down Cornerstone University 7-4 after six hours of rain delays, moving to 38-7 on the year, and advance to the winner's bracket tomorrow afternoon.
 
Lindsey Shope tied the single-season wins record after earning her 21^st win of the season. The graduate went 4.2 innings, allowing two runs off seven hits while striking out five. Cassidy Gentry came in relief in the seventh with the bases loaded and earned her third save of the season.
 
Bailey Turnbow led the Pats offense, going 2-1 with an RBI and a homerun in the first inning. Maliyah Wilkins added a three-run homerun in the first as well, while Jade Gainer and Amber Gainer went 1-2 with a pair of free passes. UC stole eight bases on the day with A. Gainer and Aniyah White swiping two each.
 
The Golden Eagles jumped on top in the top of the first inning scoring a run, before Shope struck out two batters to leave the bases loaded with minimal damage. UC answered right back as A. Gainer drew a leadoff walk and stole second one pitch later. Emma McDonald then reached on an error before Carly Oliver advanced Gainer to third with a flyout to center. McDonald stole a base of her own to move into scoring position before Wilkins put one way over the center field fence for a three-run homerun. Turnbow then stepped to the plate and smoked a no-doubter well over the left field fence for back-to-back homeruns. UC were not done yet, as J. Gainer and Jules Johnson earned free passed and moved into scoring position off a wild pitch. White then delivered a fantastic bunt for a hit to score Johnson and give UC a 5-1 lead after one.
 
Shope came back out for the second and sat CU down in order, striking out her third batter of the game to end the inning. Turnbow recorded her second hit of the game with two outs and stole second to move into scoring position. J. Gainer earned a walk to put a pair of runners on, but the Pats could not score as they held the four-run lead into the third.
 
After a scoreless third inning, Shope earned three straight grounders in the fourth to get her team back in the dugout. Cumberlands were held scoreless as well as UC's lead stayed at four.
 
After getting their leadoff runner on in the fifth, Shope fielded a pair of grounders and got the lead runner at second. Another CU runner reached before Shope earned a lineout to Ganier in centerfield to end the top of the fifth.
 
The bottom half started with a bang as J. Gainer roped a triple to right center and scored off an RBI groundout from Johnson. With one out, White walked and stole second for UC's seventh stolen base of the game. Marquila Howell bunted White over to third before A. Gainer singled to left field to score UC's seventh run of the game.
 
Cornerstone threatened in the sixth, loading the bases with two outs before the Patriots called on Jessica Cord in relief. After walking in a run, Cord earned a ground out to short to limit the damage.
 
After a scoreless bottom half, Cord came back out for the seventh. The junior gave up a pair of singles and two walks for one Golden Eagle run before UC brought in Cassidy Gentry with the bases loaded and no outs. After walking the first batter to bring the go-ahead run to the plate, the freshman struck out a CU batter for the first out of the inning. She then earned a grounder to third which Gainer fielded and threw home to cut down the runner at the plate for the second out. Gentry then fielded a grounder right back to her and fired it to first to close the game and earn her third save of the season.
 
Cumberlands now await the winner of the A&M Texarkana and Mobile which started 45 minutes after game one. Gametime for the second round is set for 1 PM ET tomorrow May 13^th, weather permitting.
 
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