Williamsburg, KY – The #9 Patriots (38-7, 13-2 MSC) split Saturday's doubleheader with (RV) Freed-Hardeman (31-13, 12) but secured the series win with a 6-5 victory in the finale at Doyle Buhl Stadium. After falling 6-3 in game one, Cumberlands bounced back to take the rubber match and move into sole possession of first place in the Mid-South Conference standings.
No. 9 Cumberlands Falls 6-3 in Game One
The Patriots were held in check offensively in the opener, dropping a 6-3 decision.
Caden Petrey provided the offensive spark for UC, going 3-for-3 with two home runs and two RBI.
Pedro Vasquez also added a solo homer in the loss.
Freed-Hardeman jumped out early, scoring a run in the first before adding two more in the third on a pair of solo home runs to take a 3-1 lead.
The Lions added another run in the fifth and two more in the seventh to extend the lead to 6-2.
Cumberlands chipped away late, with Petrey launching his second home run of the game in the sixth and Vasquez adding a solo shot in the seventh, but the Patriots were unable to complete the comeback.
No. 9 Cumberlands Edges (RV) Freed-Hardeman 6-5 to Win Series
The Patriots responded in game two, using timely hitting and a standout relief performance to secure a 6-5 victory and claim the series.
Brayden Stewart earned the win, improving to 6-0 after tossing 5.2 innings of relief and recording a season-high eight strikeouts while allowing just one unearned run.
Justin Cortez started the game before handing it off to Stewart.
Freed-Hardeman struck first with a run in the opening inning and added three more in the second to take a 4-0 lead.
Cumberlands answered in the third inning.
Ronald Almanzar hit a solo home run before
Caden Petrey followed with a two-run homer to cut the deficit to 4-3.
After Freed-Hardeman added a run in the fifth, the Patriots took control in the bottom half of the inning.
Zamaurion Hatcher delivered an RBI double,
Pedro Vasquez followed with a run-scoring groundout, and
Justin Veloz added an RBI double to give UC a 6-5 lead.
From there, Stewart shut the door, holding the Lions scoreless over the final four innings to secure the win and the series.
Cumberlands will return to action Tuesday, April 21st at 2 p.m. ET on the road at Union Commonwealth.
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