Cumberlands hands baseball team first loss

WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. - The 15th-ranked University of the Cumberlands baseball team proved worthy of its high ranking, blasting six home runs to top the previously unbeaten Union baseball team 18-3 on Monday afternoon.

A three-run home run by Max Harper in the first inning kicked things off and it only got worse from there, with Harper adding to his monster day with a grand slam in the third, an inning that ended with the Patriots holding a 13-1 lead.

The Bulldogs also struggled with balls that stayed in the park, finishing with four errors in just seven innings of play.

David Mitchell and Angel Mendoza both had two hits in the loss, with Mitchell recording the Bulldogs' lone RBI on a third-inning single. The RBI brought home Colton Stegman for the first of two runs he scored on the day.

It's hoped that Monday will prove to be a mere bump in the road on what's been an otherwise strong start to the season for the 6-1-1 Bulldogs. Union looks to get back on track when it kicks off Appalachian Athletic Conference play with a three-game home series against Bluefield this weekend.

Play begins with a 2 p.m. matchup Friday and a doubleheader Saturday, with first pitch of game one set for 1 p.m.