Late-Night Lightning: Patriots Overcome Five Hour Marathon to beat Bat Cats
MCKENZIE, Tenn. - The April sky over McKenzie, Tennessee, didn't just look like baseball weather; it looked like a test of endurance. By the time the series opener between the Bethel University Bat Cats (Wildcats) and the No. 8 University of the Cumberlands Patriots finally concluded at the Kahlden Complex, the sun had long set on a grueling five -hour and fifteen-minute ordeal.
In a game defined by a long weather delay and a tale of two halves, the Patriots flexed their late-inning muscles to overcome an early Bethel surge, handing the Wildcats a heartbreaking 14-5 loss.
Early Optimism at Kahlden:
The afternoon began with the Wildcats looking like giant killers. While the weather loomed, Bethel's bats were red-hot. In the bottom of the first, Cade Pilkinton and Garrett Taylor (2 RBIs) sparked a three-run rally. They added another in the second when CJ Lattimore doubled to bring home Zayden McCaslin. By the time the clouds opened up, and the tarp was rolled out, Bethel held a commanding 5-0 lead. On the mound, Walker Ward was putting on a masterpiece, holding the high-powered Patriots hitless through five innings of work.
Coach Thompson on the Turning Point:
"The delay changed the entire complexion of the contest. Watching a five-run lead and a no-hitter evaporate after a long stint in the dugout was a bitter pill to swallow. It's a tough one to stomach because of how well we started," said Coach Rusty Thompson. "Walker [Ward] was as good as I've seen him, keeping a very talented lineup off balance for five innings. But when you have a delay that long, it becomes a completely different game. We didn't execute the details late, and against a top ten team like Cumberlands, they're going to make you pay for every mistake. We have to not dwell on this one and find that early-inning energy again tomorrow."
The Patriot Power Surge Once Play Resumed:
The momentum stayed in the clubhouse for the Wildcats. Cumberlands finally broke through in the sixth and then dismantled the Bethel bullpen over the final three frames, scoring 11 runs between the 7th and 9th innings. The power display was relentless: Johnboy Rittenhouse and Caden Petrey launched homers to take the lead. • Derick Andiarena provided the exclamation point with a three-run blast. • Mason Howard was untouchable in relief for UC, striking out 8 batters in just four innings to silence the Bethel bats. Key Wildcats Performers: CJ Lattimore: 2-for-5, 2B, RBI • Zayden McCaslin: 2-for-4, 2B, RBI • Garrett Taylor: 1-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI
The Wildcats stand at 10-17 overall and 4-3 in the MSC. Bethel is 9-9 at home this season.
Cumberlands is 27-6 and 9-1. The Pats are 9-1 in road play this year.
The teams play a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m.