Williamsburg, KY – The #1 seed Patriots (46-9) fell to #4 seed Bryan College (29-23) by a score of 9-2 in their opening game of the NAIA Opening Round on Monday evening at Doyle Buhl Stadium.
Bryan used a pair of early scoring bursts to take control, totaling nine runs on 16 hits in the victory.
Wesley Culley was charged with the loss on the mound, allowing seven runs over 4.1 innings while striking out six. Ethan Coronel and JD Price combined to finish the game in relief.
Bryan jumped out quickly, scoring two runs in the first inning on a two-run home run. The Lions added three more in the third to extend the lead to 5-0.
Bryan continued to add on in the fifth, plating two runs to push the advantage to 7-0.
The Patriots broke through in the seventh inning. Derick Andiarena and Ronald Almanzar reached base before Johnboy Rittenhouse delivered a two-RBI double to cut the deficit to 7-2.
However, Bryan responded with runs in both the seventh and eighth innings to extend the lead to 9-2 and put the game out of reach.
Cumberlands finished with seven hits in the contest, with Almanzar recording a pair of hits while Rittenhouse drove in both runs.
UC will now look to bounce back in an elimination game tomorrow at 7 p.m. ET against the winner of #5 Central Baptist and #2 Missouri Baptist.
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