WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. - Addie Reynolds delivered the biggest hit of the afternoon, a go-ahead RBI single in extras, but No. 1 seed Cumberlands battled back in the bottom of the eighth, walking off the Sand Sharks 3-2 to cap day one at the Williamsburg Bracket Monday afternoon.
Taelor Chang led the offense collecting three hits, including a solo home run, while Reynolds and three others contributed single base knocks.Â
Cierra Kinlaw took the loss despite being brilliant in the circle. The lefty scattered eight hits and only one earned run over seven innings while striking out and walking one.Â
The Sand Sharks got a quick two outs in the second but Morgan Radford's "excuse me" swing forced Chang to make a quick throw that sailed over Mackenzie Freeman's head at first, allowing UC to go up 1-0. Chang redeemed herself leading off the top of the third by blasting a game-tying solo homer.Â
Kinlaw worked a shutdown inning after the homer and USCB put two runners on to start the fourth. After a pitching change, Chang collected her second hit, a single to left, but Freeman was gunned down from left, keeping it tied at one.
The two teams exchanged zeroes through the middle innings as both defenses shined. The Patriots turned multiple double plays up the middle and Daryn Miller made a great leaping grab against the wall in center.Â
Heading into extras the Sand Sharks loaded the bases with only one out and Reynolds drilled an RBI single off the wall, scoring Ashlyn Alte, giving USCB a 2-1 lead.Â
After allowing the first two runners to reach, Caylee Busbee relieved Kinlaw and the Patriots then loaded the bases. Maizy Caves' bloop single fell just in front of Miller and Tamiyah Whitlock and the throw from left took ricocheted off Reynold's chest protector, allowing the winning run to cross the plate.
USCB will look to find the same magic it had in Lawrenceville as it'll play the second seeded Indiana Wesleyan in the first elimination game of the Williamsburg Bracket. First pitch is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. tomorrow afternoon.Â