WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. – Baseball let one slip at the University of the Cumberlands by a 5-2 margin Friday afternoon in the opening game of the three-game series. Each team scored in two separate innings, but the Patriots scored three times in the fourth and twice in the eighth. The Bears scored single runs in the first and fifth innings.
Shawnee State got off to good start as Todd Queener and Daniel Katayama each singled to start the first inning. With one out and those two runners on the corners, Jake Cain drove home the first run of the game with the Bears' third single of the inning.
UC recorded five singles in the fourth inning to take the lead Friday. After a fly out, a bunt single started a string of four straight singles as the Patriots went station to station. SSU starter Derek Moore would get a pop up to short on the next batter, but a two-out single plated a pair of runs and the Bears were down 3-1 after four innings.
In the top of the fifth, Queener and Katayama again led off the inning and this time they would take care of things by themselves. Queener worked a leadoff walk and came around to score on an RBI double from Katayama to cut the UC lead in half, 3-2.
The Bears appeared to be headed to the ninth down just one run but Patriots got four straight two-out hits in their final at-bats to score two more runs and take a 5-2 lead into the ninth inning.
The Bears' Brandon Blackwelder worked a one-out walk in the ninth inning, but that would be all the offense SSU put up in its final at-bats.
After an undefeated high school career, Moore took his first collegiate loss as he went 7.2 innings before giving way to Mason Wisner to get the final out in the eighth. Moore allowed 11 hits and five runs, while recording one strike out. His record now sits at 5-1 on the season.
For the Patriots, Kevin Schubert got the start and went six strong innings as he allowed just seven hits and the two runs. Schubert improved to 5-1 with the victory. Anthony Webster recorded his fourth save of the season by working the final three innings. He allowed just one hit and one walk during that time.
Baseball will be back in action tomorrow to finish out the series with a doubleheader against the University of the Cumberlands. First pitch for Saturday is set for noon.
