Bat Cats Fall at Cumberland University

LEBANON, Tenn. – A promising start turned into a tough loss for the Bethel Wildcats Wednesday afternoon losing at Cumberland University 17-6.

The Wildcats used the long ball to jump out to a 3-0 lead in Lebanon. Bethel would up the lead to 4-0 on a Gabriel Matias sacrifice fly in the top of the fifth. The Cats could not hold on however as Cumberland scored seven runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 7-4 lead. They added four runs in the seventh, five in the eighth and the three big innings proved to be fatal for the Wildcats. The Phoenix went on to win 17-6.

Randy Guevarez hit a solo shot in the third to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead. Colin Roberts and Jack Surber went deep in the fourth to up the margin to 3-0.

Cody Ladner had held Cumberland to just one hit entering the fifth inning but then the home team found their hitting eye plating seven big runs.

Guevarez drove in another run in the sixth to cut the deficit to 7-5.

Cumberland scored a single run in the bottom of the sixth and then followed with their four run explosion to make it 12-5.

After a triple in the eighth by Colby Poston the Wildcats scored again on a Zach Crocker RBI single to make it 12-6. The Phoenix put the game totally out of reach with their late inning scoring. Brad Smith picked up the victory while Cody Ladner fell to 1-1 suffering the loss.

The Wildcats fell to 19-15 on the season. Bethel lost their third straight game. Cumberland snapped an eight game losing streak and moved to 17-23 on the year.

The Wildcats face Mobile Friday in am SSAC doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. at Wildcat Park.

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