Williamsburg, KY – The seventh-ranked University of the Cumberlands split its doubleheader against the University of St. Francis (Ill.) on Friday at the UC Softball Complex, falling 7-6 in game one before responding with a 20-6 victory in the nightcap. The Patriots move to 7-2 on the season.
Game 1: ROSS' TWO HOMERS NOT ENOUGH IN 7-6 LOSS
St. Francis came out swinging in the opener, collecting five hits in the top of the first inning, highlighted by a three-RBI double to take an early 3-0 lead.
Grace Ross answered immediately in the bottom half, launching a solo home run to deep center field to cut the deficit to 3-1.
The Patriots continued to chip away in the second. Jenna Fabela singled and advanced on a sacrifice bunt before Ryann Livingston delivered an RBI single to left center to make it 3-2.
UC tied the game in the fourth when Krystal Anne Castaneda doubled down the left field line and later scored on an RBI single from Emily Delgado.
St. Francis regained the lead in the fifth with an RBI double and extended it to 6-3 in the sixth with two more runs.
Once again, Ross delivered in a key moment. After Maleah Clinton singled and Alyssa Garcia reached, Ross connected on her second home run of the game, fourth of the season, with a a three-run blast to left center, to even the contest at 6-6.
The Saints answered in the seventh with an RBI single to take a 7-6 advantage. Cumberlands put the tying run on in the bottom half but could not bring it home as St. Francis secured the opener.
Ross finished the game 2-for-2 with two home runs and four RBIs.
Game 2: PATS ERUPT FOR 14-RUN FIRST INNING TO EARN SPLIT
The Patriots wasted no time bouncing back in game two, sending 18 batters to the plate in a 14-run first inning.
Maleah Clinton led off with a single before Alyssa Garcia reached on an error. After Ross walked to load the bases, Emily Delgado delivered an RBI single to open the scoring. Jenna Fabela followed with a two-run double, and the offense continued to roll from there.
Kristen Smith added an RBI single, Krystal Anne Castaneda drove in a run with a single, and Ross capped one of the early surges with a two-RBI double down the left field line. The Patriots capitalized on multiple St. Francis errors and timely hitting to build a 14-0 advantage by the end of the inning.
UC added another run in the second when Smith doubled home Fabela to make it 15-0.
St. Francis responded in the third with a grand slam to cut into the lead, but Cumberlands answered immediately in the bottom half. Ross delivered a two-RBI double, Delgado added a two-run double of her own, and Fabela drove in another run to push the margin to 20-4.
The Saints added two runs in the fourth, but Brenna Parker entered in relief and recorded the final six outs to secure the 20-6 victory. The Patriots 20 runs was the most scored in a single game since 2017.
The Patriots finished with 18 hits in the nightcap. Clinton, Fabela, and Smith each tallied three hits, while Ross drove in four runs in the game to cap a standout day at the plate.
Up Next
Cumberlands will conclude its series against the University of St. Francis (Ill.) on Saturday at 12:00 PM at the UC Softball Complex in Williamsburg, KY.
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