Lewiston, ID – The #7 seed UC Baseball (50-11) team survived a late push from #8 seed Loyola University (42-18) in a dramatic 9-8 win to move on in the Avista NAIA World Series. Cumberlands picks up back-to-back wins in the World Series for the first time in program history. The Pats jumped out to an early 9-0 lead before the Wolf Pack stormed back with eight unanswered runs to force this one to come down to the very end.
At the plate, Alec Gonzalez led the Patriots offensively with three hits in five at-bats while also collecting an RBI. Pedro Vasquez notched a grand slam in a 1-for-5 performance, driving in a game-high four runs. Charlie Muniz went 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBI's.
Stuart Tharle got the start in game three for Cumberlands. The Australian native pitched 2.1 innings, allowing three runs on three hits with three strikeouts. Jake Kmiecik (6-2) was the first pitcher in relief and was credited with the win. The senior allowed just one run on three hits with four strikeouts across 4.2 innings of work. Cooper Morgan relieved Kmiecik and gave up four runs with a strikeout. Ben Rohrbach (2) earned the save after recording the final four outs and not allowing a run to cross the plate.
The Pats made a statement right away in their first at-bat, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first inning to take a 4-0 advantage. Christian Thompson walked to lead off the inning, followed by a Muniz two-run homer to right center, the first UC home run of the World Series. Derick Andiarena was then hit by a pitch and Max Harper walked to put two base runners on with still nobody out. Gonzalez followed with an RBI-single to score Andiarena from second. One batter later, Edwin Martinez drove in the fourth run of the frame on an RBI-ground out.
The UC bats were alive and well again in the bottom of the second inning. Both Caden Petrey and Thompson were hit by a pitch to begin the inning. After the first out was recorded, Andiarena hit an RBI-single through the left side to extend the lead to 5-0. Couple of batters later and with the bases loaded, Vasquez launched a grand slam to deep left field to plate four more and give Cumberlands a 9-0 lead.
In the top of the third inning, Loyola responded with three runs to make it a 9-3 ballgame.
After two scoreless frames, the Wolf Pack added another run in the top of the sixth inning, and the score was now 9-4.
Loyola had their biggest offensive inning in the eighth as they scored four runs and all of a sudden it was a one-run ballgame heading into the final frame at 9-8.
Rohrbach was able to retire the side in order on a leaping play from Martinez at second base, a fly out to left field, and a strikeout to send UC to the next round.
Cumberlands advances to play the loser of tonight's game between #4 Hope International and #1 LSU Shreveport on Tuesday May 27th. The first pitch is set for 6:00 p.m. ET/ 3:00 PT.
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