NAIA Today

The University of the Cumberlands (formerly Cumberland College) Patriot baseball team spent most of the week preparing for the Mid-South Conference Tournament in Georgetown this weekend.
On Tuesday, the Patriots defeated then #7 Union College 11-10. The Patriots trailed 7-3 entering the bottom of the fifth inning. The Patriots rallied for six runs over the next two innings on the strength of a pair of home runs from freshman catcher Robert Mills (Las Vegas, NV). Red-shirt freshman Adam Blakey (Jamestown, KY) earned the victory, striking out seven in three and a third innings of work.
The Patriots opened MSC tournament play on Friday against Pikeville College. Cumberlands used a seven-run seventh inning to advance to the second round with an 8-6 victory. Junior first baseman Victor Wooldridge (Jamestown, KY) fueled the Patriots with two home runs and three runs batted in on the day. Junior outfielder Trevor Urbanick (Conneautville, PA) added three hits.
In the first game Saturday, the Patriots defeated Lindsey Wilson College 13-2. Sophomore right handed pitcher Chris Short (Wildwood, MO) allowed two runs in the first inning, then settled in to scatter five hits and not allow another run the rest of the way. Short (7-2, 4.30) finished the game with six strikeouts while walking only one. Senior outfielder Chris Wood (Tallahassee, FL) had three hits and three runs batted in, in the game.
The Patriots then played Campbellsville on Saturday afternoon. They did not get the timely hits and fell to the Tigers 5-1. One run was the lowest offensive output from the Patriots since March 26, when they were shutout by Campbellsville.
Cumberlands then faced possible elimination in a rematch with Pikeville. The Patriots posted three runs in the second inning and six runs in the fifth inning to hang in for a 9-6 victory. Junior left handed pitcher Justin Roth (New Port Richey, FL) came into the game with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the ninth. He retired the two batters he faced to earn his first save of the season. Senior second baseman B.J. Foley (Corbin, KY), Wood, and Mills each had two runs batted in for the Patriots.
With the second victory over Pikeville, the Patriots (36-13, 16-5) earned a rematch with Campbellsville. The Patriots will travel to Campbellsville on Thursday to continue conference tournament play. The game is scheduled for 3:00 PM. If Campbellsville wins, they are the MSC tournament champions. If the Patriots win, they force a deciding championship game on Friday, also to be played at Campbellsville.