University of the Cumberlands ranked in NAIA Top 25 for 1st time in program history
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University of the Cumberlands-
The University of the Cumberlands softball team leaped into the NAIA Coaches' Poll at No. 21 last week after starting the season unranked, as announced by the national office.
The ranking is the first time the program has been ranked in the Top 25 since the fast pitch era began.
Through their first 24 games, Cumberlands posted a 19-5 record, the best start for the program in their history. In that time, UC went on a 17-home game win streak capped by a victory over #10 Georgia Gwinnett who has now moved into the #6 spot in the latest poll. Emily Bryant had the walk-off game winner in the 8th inning against the Grizzlies, marking the first top-ten win since Head Coach Bailey Dillender took the helm in 2018.
"I just think it's a testament to what we set out to build when we took the program over a couple years ago," Dillender said. "The buy-in from our kids is top-notch, and they just believe they can compete at a high level. I'm proud for our program and players past and present, but we still have larger goals and are focused forward on a young season."
In the first contests of the season, the Patriots defeated Southeastern in a pair of games, 2-0 and 2-1. At the time, Southeastern was unranked, but has now slotted themselves into the #25 spot, giving the Patriots three wins over teams in the latest top-25 poll.
Maddie Sickau leads the UC offense batting .468 on the season, with six home runs and knocking in a team best 24 RBI. Bryant, has also been seeing success at the plate batting .456 with 12 extra base hits and 20 RBI. As a team, UC ranks third in total RBI, combining for 123. The Patriots bats have been moving through the first 24 games leading the nation with 208 hits and 49 doubles.
In the circle, Cumberlands has a team ERA of 2.22 striking out 108 hitters and limiting opponents to just 45 runs. Kaiti White and Talli Burgess have both recorded over 30 strikeouts on the year and the duo were tied for first in the country with three saves each as of last week.
Since this announcement, the UC team has improved their record to 23-8.
Hillsboro’s White, a former Fairfield standout, currently boasts a 5-1 record and 2.42 ERA as of this posting. She also has a .571 batting average.
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The ranking is the first time the program has been ranked in the Top 25 since the fast pitch era began.
Through their first 24 games, Cumberlands posted a 19-5 record, the best start for the program in their history. In that time, UC went on a 17-home game win streak capped by a victory over #10 Georgia Gwinnett who has now moved into the #6 spot in the latest poll. Emily Bryant had the walk-off game winner in the 8th inning against the Grizzlies, marking the first top-ten win since Head Coach Bailey Dillender took the helm in 2018.
"I just think it's a testament to what we set out to build when we took the program over a couple years ago," Dillender said. "The buy-in from our kids is top-notch, and they just believe they can compete at a high level. I'm proud for our program and players past and present, but we still have larger goals and are focused forward on a young season."
In the first contests of the season, the Patriots defeated Southeastern in a pair of games, 2-0 and 2-1. At the time, Southeastern was unranked, but has now slotted themselves into the #25 spot, giving the Patriots three wins over teams in the latest top-25 poll.
Maddie Sickau leads the UC offense batting .468 on the season, with six home runs and knocking in a team best 24 RBI. Bryant, has also been seeing success at the plate batting .456 with 12 extra base hits and 20 RBI. As a team, UC ranks third in total RBI, combining for 123. The Patriots bats have been moving through the first 24 games leading the nation with 208 hits and 49 doubles.
In the circle, Cumberlands has a team ERA of 2.22 striking out 108 hitters and limiting opponents to just 45 runs. Kaiti White and Talli Burgess have both recorded over 30 strikeouts on the year and the duo were tied for first in the country with three saves each as of last week.
Since this announcement, the UC team has improved their record to 23-8.
Hillsboro’s White, a former Fairfield standout, currently boasts a 5-1 record and 2.42 ERA as of this posting. She also has a .571 batting average.
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