NAIA Coaches' Poll: No. 2

Kansas City, MO – For the first time in program history, the Cumberlands Patriots are ranked in the top-five of the NAIA Coaches' poll jumping up to #3. This marks the highest ranking in program history with the team accumulating 479 points, moving up from their #13 ranking in the last poll. Cumberlands also earned their first ever first place votes in the rankings, accumulating four.
 
The Patriots are 24-2 on the season with a 5-0 Mid-South Conference record. The team has seven wins over ranked opponents, including four wins over teams who were ranked in the top-five at the time of the games. Since the last poll, Cmberlands is 7-0 with defeates over three NAIA World Series teams in Mobile, Tennessee Wesleyan, and Freed-Hardeman. UC outscored those three opponents 26-8.
 
As a team, Cumberlands ranks in the top-20 of 15 categories in the NAIA. The pitching staff has the top ERA in the nation at 1.19 and fourth in shutouts with eight. Offensively, the Patriots are second in sac flies with 14, sixth in extra base hits with 70, and eighth in total bases with 340.
 
Talli Burgess is fifth in the NAIA in ERA at 0.59 and second in saves with three so far this season. She has the most wins in the MSC with 10. Right behind her is Morgan Radford with a 0.87 ERA for second best in the conference.
 
The Pats are also getting it done offensively this season, led by Bailey Turnbow who has the third best batting average in the MSC at .449. Makenzie Keatts is tied for second in RBI for the MSC with 22 and Turnbow is right behind her with 21. Carly Oliver is tied for second in the MSC in home runs, blasting five and Hailey Wood paces the MSC in stolen bases with 21.
 
UC is the highest ranked MSC team in the poll at #3, followed by Freed-Hardeman at #14 and Campbellsville at #22.
 
Cumberlands will hit the road for their next games, taking on Shawnee State in Portsmouth, OH. The teams will take place in a three-game series starting Thursday, March 23 with game one at 1PM and game two to follow.

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