Clinch MSC Title for Third Straight Year
Graphic by Lilly McKeehan
By Nicholas Jackson
The No. 7-ranked University of the Cumberlands baseball team made a major statement over the weekend, sweeping Campbellsville in dominant fashion and securing their third straight Mid-South Conference (MSC) regular season championship. The Patriots extended their perfect conference record to 15-0, improving to 40-6 overall on the season. The three-game series kicked off on Friday afternoon with a tightly contested 5-3 victory, followed by a Saturday doubleheader that saw the Patriots explode offensively in a 21-5 rout and finish with a 7-2 win in the series finale.
The wins were extra special for the program, as Head Coach Brad Shelton reached a major career milestone — earning his 900th career victory. The series also highlighted individual excellence, including another record breaking performance from senior slugger Charlie Muniz, who leads all of college baseball
in home runs.
Friday: Patriots Battle to 5-3 Victory
Cumberlands set the tone in game one with solid all-around play. On the mound, lefty Kailen Hamson was electric, tossing eight strong innings and giving up only three runs on four hits while striking out eight. Hamson improved to 9-0 on the year. JD Price entered in the ninth and shut the door, striking out the side to earn his seventh save.
The Pats got the bats going early, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first. Leadoff hitter Christian Thompson doubled, then scored on a Charlie Muniz RBI-double. After a walk by MaxHarper, Alec Gonzalez launched a three-run homer to left-center, his seventh of the season.
Though Campbellsville chipped away to make it 4-3 by the eighth inning, Cumberlands added an insurance run in the seventh, thanks to a Petrey single, another Thompson hit, and a Harper RBI-infield single. Price sealed the deal in the ninth with a dominant outing on the
mound.
Saturday Game 1: Patriots erupt in 21-5 blowout. Game one of Saturday’s doubleheader was an offensive clinic. Cumberlands piled up 21 runs on 16 hits and showed no mercy in a commanding win.
Alec Gonzalez had another huge day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a three-run homer and five RBI. Max Harper went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI, while Trent Prokes and Charlie Muniz each added homers of their own. The Patriots wasted no time, scoring three in the first and nine in the second. Gonzalez’s three-run homer — his second in as many days — opened the scoring. In the second inning, the Pats exploded with RBI hits from Petrey, Andiarena, Harper, and another big blast from Prokes.
Cumberlands kept the pressure on in the third, adding seven more runs. Muniz added to his home run tally with a two-run shot, while Petrey and Thompson contributed with clutch hits to extend the lead to 19-2. Harper’s second homer of the day came in the sixth to cap the scoring at 21-5.
On the mound, Knicko Billings improved to 9-1, tossing five innings and giving up just three runs. Relievers Carlos Valenzuela and Willis McCarter combined to close out the final two innings, with McCarter not allowing a single hit.
Saturday Game 2: Sweep with 7-2 Win
The Patriots wrapped up the series with a strong 7-2 victory in game three, once again getting out to an early lead and never looking back.
Cooper Morgan got the start and turned in a gem, going six innings without allowing a run and striking out four. Jake Kmiecik and JD Price came out of the bullpen to secure the final three innings.
Offensively, Caden Petrey stole the spotlight, going 3-for-4 with two three-run home runs and a career-high six RBI. Muniz added another homer — his second of the day — continuing his record-setting pace.
Cumberlands led 1-0 after the first and extended their lead to 4-0 in the third thanks to Petrey’s first blast. He struck again in the eighth with another three-run bomb to give the Pats a 7-0 cushion. Though the Tigers managed two runs in the ninth, it was too little, too late.
Looking Ahead
With the MSC regular season title locked up and momentum at an all-time high, the Patriots now shift their focus toward postseason play. With standout pitching, an explosive offense, and leadership from players like Muniz and Petrey, Cumberlands looks every bit like a team ready to make a deep postseason run.
The Patriots return to action next week with their eyes set on an MSC Tournament championship — and perhaps more history to be made along the way.
