Williamsburg, KY – The top-seeded Patriots (47-9) bounced back in the NAIA Opening Round with an 8-4 victory over #2 seed Missouri Baptist (40-12) on Tuesday night at Doyle Buhl Stadium.
Cumberlands totaled eight runs on 10 hits, using a pivotal fifth inning and a strong bullpen performance to secure the win.
Justin Cortez earned the victory in relief, improving to 5-0 after tossing 4.2 innings while allowing just one run and striking out seven. Brayden Stewart got the start, allowing three runs over 4.1 innings.
Missouri Baptist struck first with two runs in the second inning and added another in the third to take a 3-0 lead.
The Patriots began their comeback in the fourth. Pedro Vasquez doubled to start the inning and later scored on an RBI groundout from S. De La Cruz to make it 3-1.
Cumberlands took control in the fifth inning. Ronald Almanzar delivered a two-RBI double to tie the game before Johnboy Rittenhouse launched a two-run home run to give UC a 5-3 lead.
The Patriots added to the advantage in the seventh as Rittenhouse blasted his second home run of the game to make it 6-3.
UC tacked on two more runs in the eighth inning on an RBI single from Almanzar, extending the lead to 8-3.
Missouri Baptist added a run in the eighth, but Cortez shut the door in the ninth to secure the 8-4 victory.
Rittenhouse led the offense with three hits, two home runs, and three RBI, while Almanzar added three hits and four RBI in the win.
Cumberlands will now face #4 seed Bryan College in a rematch on Wednesday beginning at 12 p.m. ET at Doyle Buhl Stadium. The winner of that game will advance to the championship against #3 seed William Carey.
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