BOWLING GREEN, Ky.--Patriots force a winner take all championship game after beating the Phoenix 5-3 in the first game on Sunday. 

The University of the Cumberlands were trailing in the eighth inning, but Patriots catcher Charlie Muniz bopped a three-run home run to give Cumberlands the lead and the win. 

Quinlan Wiley (7-2) took a tough loss throwing all eight innings on short rest. He gave up six hits and three earned runs while striking out four on short rest. Wiley retired 17-straight batters in the middle of the game before the Patriots rallied in the eighth. 

Cumberland outhit the Patriots notching nine hits, but stranded some guys in big spots. Trenton Duchsherer went 2-for-4 with a double. Javier Beal had a two-run single in the second and Dylan LaRue blasted a solo home run. 

JD Price (2-0) picked up the win on the mound for the Cumberlands. Price tossed three innings in Cumberlands win last night before going five in relief giving up four hits and one run. Nolan Wilson threw the first four innings giving up five hits and one run. 

The Patriots struck in the first inning taking advantage of one error. With runners on second and third and two outs, Alec Gonzalez roped a single into left for a two run lead. 

Cumberland answered in the top of the second. Toshiki Kuriya and Gaines Haussin both singled to start the inning. LaRue followed with a hit by pitch and Beal delivered a two-RBI single up the middle. 

Both teams were quiet in the third, fourth, and fifth inning before LaRue jacked a solo home run in the sixth to give Cumberland the lead 3-2. 

Wiley continued cruising through the seventh, but ran into trouble in the eighth. Caleb Petrey hit an infield single to break up a stretch of retiring 17-straight batters. Christian Thompson followed with a single to bring up Muniz. Wiley and Muniz battled before Muniz hit a three-run home run over the right field fence to give Cumberlands the lead 5-3. 

Price induced a game-ending doubleplay to end the game and force the if necessary game today at 12:50 p.m.