Kingsport, TN – The No. 6 Patriots opened day one of the Clash of Conferences with a pair of victories over the University of Rio Grande on Sunday afternoon at Hunter Wright Stadium. Cumberlands cruised to a 15-1 win in game one before scoring six unanswered runs to rally for a 7-5 victory in game two, improving to 4-0 on the season.
No. 6 Cumberlands Rolls Past Rio Grande, 15-1
Jaden Morris earned the win on the mound for the Patriots in game one, tossing three scoreless innings in relief while allowing just one hit and striking out four.
Wesley Culley got the start, pitching three innings and allowing one run on three hits with three strikeouts.
Jack Scrofano worked a scoreless seventh to close out the win.
At the plate,
Johnboy Rittenhouse led the way with a 3-for-5 performance, including a home run and three RBI.
Ronald Almanzar scored three runs, while
Dariel Castillo went 2-for-4 with three RBI.
Clay Shelton added a double and drove in three, and
Derick Andiarena collected a pair of extra-base hits with two RBI.
After a scoreless first three innings, the Patriots broke through in the top of the fourth.
Ronald Almanzar drew a walk and Rittenhouse doubled to put runners on second and third.
Caden Petrey followed with an RBI-single, and
Zamaurion Hatcher brought in another run with a groundout. After back-to-back hit by pitches loaded the bases,
Cole Reynolds drew a walk to make it 3-1. Castillo then reached on a fielder's choice to drive in two more runs, giving UC a 5-1 lead.
Cumberlands blew the game open in the fifth inning with nine runs on six hits. Shelton delivered a bases-clearing double to push the lead to 9-1 before Castillo and Andiarena added RBI hits. Rittenhouse capped the inning with a three-run home run to extend the advantage to 14-1.
The Patriots added one more run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Castillo to secure the 15-1 victory.
No. 6 Cumberlands Completes Day-One Sweep with 7-5 Win
Brayden Stewart picked up the win in relief for the Patriots in game two, tossing 1.2 scoreless innings while striking out two.
Mason Howard was impressive out of the bullpen as well, throwing 2.1 shutout innings after entering in the second.
Nolan Wilson got the start, while
Justin Cortez also saw action in the win.
Offensively,
Dariel Castillo finished 1-for-3 with two runs scored.
Derick Andiarena went 2-for-3 with two RBI, while
Ronald Almanzar homered and drove in two.
Zamaurion Hatcher and
Sebastian De La Cruz each recorded an RBI in the victory.
Rio Grande jumped out to a 5-1 lead through the first two innings, but the Patriots responded by scoring six unanswered runs over the final three frames.
Cumberlands began its comeback in the bottom of the fourth inning. After
Caden Petrey reached on an error, Hatcher singled in a run. De La Cruz followed with an RBI-single, and Andiarena delivered a two-run double to tie the game at 5-5.
The Patriots took the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth inning. Castillo was hit by a pitch to start the frame, and Andiarena followed with a walk. Almanzar singled up the middle to drive in the go-ahead run. One batter later,
Johnboy Rittenhouse lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to score Andiarena and give UC a 7-5 lead.
Stewart shut the door in the seventh, retiring the side in order to secure the sweep.
The Patriots will continue play tomorrow against West Virginia Tech at noon ET. on day two of the Clash of Conferences in Kingsport.
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