Softball Welcomes in Patriots for Final Regular Season Series

LEBANON, Tenn - - Cumberland Softball will wrap up their regular season this weekend with a three-game set against the No. 18 ranked University of the Cumberlands, beginning with a doubleheader of Thursday at 1 p.m. CT and conclude with Senior Day festivities on Friday at 1 p.m. CT.

Cumberland comes into their final weekend series with a 15-22 record overall, going 5-11 in conference. That record has them sat in sixth place, with Georgetown holding a two-game lead in fifth place. The Patriots are 33-13, with an 11-4 record in conference, sat in second place.

Last weekend's series with the Tigers played out the way a number of series have this season, seeing the Phoenix pitching staff help to keep Cumberland in close games. Game two of the series was the true highlight, as senior Madison Croxford pitched six innings of two-run ball, throwing just 72 total pitches in her outing.

Behind her, Avery Rauscher has posted a 2.41 ERA with 95 strikeouts across 116.1 innings of work, while Madison Lancaster has been a sturdy arm in relief and in the rotation, throwing 44.2 innings this season.

Contrasting the Phoenix arms, the Patriots bats have been stellar with a team batting average of .324, just outside of the top 50 in the country. Their lineup is led by their everyday catcher Grace Ross, who has been a massive boost for first-year head coach Bruce Lenington. Bringing her with him from OLLU, Ross has not missed a beat as she is batting .429 with a 1.360 OPS and 15 home runs.

Just behind her in the conference individual rankings, Emily Delgado offers the third-best batting average in the conference at .408. The junior has also been a handy two-way player, throwing the second most innings on the roster, firing 56.1 innings.

Karley Daughrity leads the lineup with a .289 average and .377 on-base percentage, while Elly Castle (.277) and Abby Chappell (.272) provide depth in the middle of the lineup.

Besides the aforementioned Delgado, the Patriots true workhorse in the pitching staff in Jessica Cord. The senior has been stellar this season with a sub 1.50 ERA through 177.2 innings pitched, earning four Mid-South Conference Pitcher of the Week Honors along the way.

The Patriots hold a 34-24 advantage in the all-time series, though the record evens up at home for the Phoenix as the record sits at 12-13 in Lebanon. The Patriots have won 13 straight over Cumberland.

First pitch is set for Thursday at 1:00 p.m. CT, with the series finale scheduled for Friday at 1:00 p.m. CT.

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Players Mentioned

#1 Abby Chappell: C/UT; 5' 5"; Senior

#2 Madison Croxford: RHP; 5' 5"; Senior

#21 Karley Daughrity: IF; 5' 9"; Senior

#4 Madison Lancaster: RHP; 5' 9"; Sophomore

#13 Elly Castle: IF; 5' 6"; Junior

#28 Avery Rauscher: OF; 5' 4"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#1 Abby Chappell
: 5' 5"; Senior
: C/UT

#2 Madison Croxford
: 5' 5"; Senior
: RHP

#21 Karley Daughrity
: 5' 9"; Senior
: IF

#4 Madison Lancaster
: 5' 9"; Sophomore
: RHP

#13 Elly Castle
: 5' 6"; Junior
: IF

#28 Avery Rauscher
: 5' 4"; Freshman
: OF