Williamsburg, KY – The #9 Patriots (37-6, 12-1 MSC) took the series opener over (RV) Freed-Hardeman with a 13-8 victory on Friday afternoon at Doyle Buhl Stadium in a matchup between the top two teams in the Mid-South Conference.
Cumberlands totaled 13 runs on 12 hits, using a pair of big innings in the middle frames to pull away.
Wesley Culley earned the win on the mound, going six innings while allowing five runs on seven hits and striking out five.
Jaden Morris picked up the save, tossing the final 2.1 innings with four strikeouts.
At the plate,
Derick Andiarena led the way with a 3-for-5 performance, including a home run, a triple, and five RBI.
Ronald Almanzar added a two-run homer, while
Pedro Vasquez also went deep as part of the Patriots offensive surge.
Freed-Hardeman struck first with three runs in the second inning and added another in the third to take a 4-0 lead.
The Patriots responded in the bottom of the third. Almanzar launched a two-run home run before
Zamaurion Hatcher delivered an RBI single to cut the deficit to 4-3.
Freed-Hardeman added a run in the fourth, but Cumberlands answered immediately. Andiarena delivered an RBI triple to trim the lead to 5-4.
The Patriots took control in the sixth inning. Vasquez led off with a solo home run before Andiarena blasted a three-run homer to give UC an 8-5 advantage.
Cumberlands added to the lead in the seventh as
Dariel Castillo and
Bryce Turner each drove in runs to extend the lead to 10-6.
The Patriots continued to add insurance in the eighth inning, pushing three more runs across to make it 13-6.
Freed-Hardeman scored two runs in the ninth, but Morris shut the door to secure the 13-8 victory.
The two teams will meet again tomorrow for a doubleheader beginning at noon ET at Doyle Buhl Stadium.
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