Williamsburg, KY – The #8 Patriots (36-6) extended their winning streak to 13 games with a 16-4 run-rule victory over Midway on Tuesday afternoon at Doyle Buhl Stadium. Cumberlands used a dominant second inning and a breakout performance from
Zamaurion Hatcher to take control early and never look back.
JD Price earned the win in relief, improving to 4-0 on the season after tossing two scoreless innings with three strikeouts. The Patriot bullpen combined to limit Midway to just one earned run over the final five innings.
At the plate, Hatcher led the way with a season-best seven RBI, going 3-for-3 with a home run.
Ronald Almanzar added a three-run homer, while
Pedro Vasquez drove in two runs and scored three times in the win.
After a scoreless first inning, the Patriots erupted in the second. Hatcher broke things open with a grand slam to left field, and Almanzar followed later in the inning with a three-run home run as UC plated seven runs to take a 7-0 lead.
Midway responded with three runs in the third to cut the deficit to 7-3, but Cumberlands answered immediately.
In the bottom of the third, the Patriots capitalized on free passes and defensive miscues to push across three more runs, extending the lead to 10-3.
UC continued to build the advantage in the fourth inning as Hatcher delivered another big swing, driving in two runs with a single to make it 14-3.
The Patriots added two more runs in the sixth on RBI plays from Hatcher and
Dariel Castillo to cap the scoring at 16-4.
Cumberlands' pitching staff shut the door late, holding Midway to just one run over the final two innings to secure the run-rule victory.
The Patriots will return to action Friday, April 17th for a Mid-South Conference series at home against (RV) Freed-Hardeman at Doyle Buhl Stadium.
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