WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. – Missouri Baptist University baseball fell to the University of the Cumberlands 16-6 to end its NAIA National Tournament run and the season with a 42-11 overall record on Thursday.
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The Spartans went into the day needing two wins over the Patriots to advance to the NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho, but they were denied by the UC bats, including a two-home run performance from Max Harper.
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The Cumberlands Recap
The Cumberlands' offense went to work starting in the second inning, scoring three in the frame, one in the third, two in the fourth, one in the fifth, five in the sixth, and three in the eighth.
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Missouri Baptist was held hitless by the UC arms until a
Jayden Orozco single to lead off the top of the fifth inning. The Spartans went on to put up three runs on an RBI walk from
Dominic Palma, a sacrifice fly from
Blayne Yarger, and an RBI single to center from
James Jett to cut the 6-0 lead to 6-3.
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Trailing 12-3 in the seventh, Jett drove in another run with a single,
Cole Robinson followed in the next at bat with a bases-loaded walk, and
Jakob Kouneski capped off the scoring with an RBI single to make it 12-6.
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The Patriots plated another run in the seventh and three more runs in the eighth, which included a two-run home run from Pedro Vasquez, before stranding a pair of Spartans on base in the top of the ninth to claim a 16-6 win.
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Carter Sabol got the start on short rest and went 1.1 innings, allowing three earned runs, one walk, and three strikeouts. Six additional pitchers came in out of the bullpen and combined to allow 13 earned runs, 11 hits, and six walks.
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Jett paced the offense with a pair of RBI, giving him 12 total RBI in the four NAIA Opening Round games. Â Â
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Winning Pitcher: J. Price (3-0)
Losing Pitcher: Carter Sabol (12-2)
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Batting Leaders
James Jett: 2-for-4, 2 RBI
Dominic Palma: 1-for-3, RBI, R
Jakob Kouneski: 2-for-5, RBi
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Records:
No. 16 Missouri Baptist: 42-11
No. 8 Cumberlands (Ky.): 48-10
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