WILLIAMSBURG – The top-seeded Patriots (51-6) secured their spot in the NAIA World Series by remaining undefeated in the Williamsburg bracket and defeating Saint Francis (40-19) 11-6 in the championship game on Wednesday afternoon. This will be UC’s second consecutive trip to Lewiston and only the second time in the program’s history.
Starting pitcher Kailen Hamson pitched four innings, allowing three runs and striking out three batters. Dustin Sprong then took over for 2.1 innings, improving his season record to 4-2 with three strikeouts and three hits allowed. Cooper Morgan followed with 1.2 innings, striking out one and giving up two hits with no runs. Chipper Korbacher closed the game, securing the final three outs.
At the plate, Evan St. Claire went 2-for-2, including a home run and three RBIs. Trent Prokes was 2-for-5, hitting a two-run homer and an RBI single, contributing three RBIs in total.
Saint Francis took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning with a sacrifice fly. UC tied it up 1-1 in the third when Charlie Muniz scored on a Johnboy Rittenhouse RBI single.
The Cougars regained a 3-1 lead in the fourth inning, but UC tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the fourth, scoring two runs off two hits and an error. Alec Gonzalez singled and reached third on a Cougars’ error, then scored on a Prokes RBI single. Christian Thompson’s groundout advanced the runners, and with the bases loaded, St. Claire walked in a run to tie the game.
Saint Francis took a 6-3 lead in the fifth with a three-run homer. UC narrowed the gap to 6-5 in the bottom of the fifth when Gonzalez walked and scored on a Prokes home run.
Cumberlands took an 8-6 lead in the sixth inning. Muniz walked, followed by a two-run homer from St. Claire. Rittenhouse walked and scored on a double from Snapp.
The Patriots extended their lead to 9-6 in the seventh inning. Former Whitley County Colonel Caden Petrey was hit by a pitch.
In the eighth inning, Gonzalez’s solo homer and Caden Petrey’s shot to left field sealed the final score at 11-6.
No. 3 Cumberlands will head to Lewiston, ID for the NAIA World Series, starting Friday, May 24th.
PHOTOS BY: BILL TURNER
