Baseball Drops DH to Cumberland U
MCKENZIE, Tenn. – The Bethel Wildcats and the (RV) Cumberland Phoenix met again Saturday playing a doubleheader at Wildcat Park in McKenzie. Cumberland won the first game of the three-game MSC series Friday 5-4.
The Wildcats had hoped for better results on Senior Day. Ceremonies took place between the games. Logan Beecham, John Boren, Hunter Brown, Jacob Foster, and Noah Miller were all recognized and saluted.
The mid-state visitors completed the series sweep however with two wins on the day.
Cumberland won game one in a high scoring 11-9 affair. The Phoenix held on to capture game two 6-4.
In game one the Phoenix scored four runs in the first to take the early lead. CU added four more runs in the second to up their margin 8-0 after two innings.
The Wildcats tallied a run in the bottom of the second. Jacob Foster drove in J T Morgan with a sacrifice fly to right field.
Jayden Hanna homered in the top of the third to put CU up 9-1. Santrel Farmer homered in the fifth and Cumberland took a 10-1 lead.
The Wildcats scored on a ground out fielder's choice off the bat of Wyatt McKee. Jose Olmeda scored on the play.
The Phoenix answered with a Tyner Hughes homer that extended CU's margin to 11-2.
Despite the deficit, the Wildcats battled back. Bethel scored five runs in the sixth to make the game interesting at 11-7. Logan Beecham has an RBI double. Bryan Catala drove in two runs with a double. Luis Aristud scored on a fielder's choice on a ground out by Olmeda. Catala later scored on an error by CU.
The Wildcats added two runs in the seventh before falling 11-9. Noah Hawkins scored on a passed ball. Joseph Hufstedler scored on a fielder's choice.
Cumberland outhit the Wildcats 9-8.
Cole Eigenhuis was the winner for CU. Ethan Torres was credited with the save. Marco Santa suffered the Bethel loss.
The Phoenix took a 3-0 lead in the first inning of game two.
Bethel's J T Morgan plated a run in the second, but CU answered with two runs in the third and led 5-1 after three.
Bethel's Ivan Vega drove in Aristud with an RBI single in the fourth to cut the deficit 5-2.
Bethel's Hunter Hudson had an RBI double in the fifth and Bethel trailed 5-3.
The Phoenix extended their lead in the top of the seventh when Hughes hit his second home run of the day to make it a 6-3 Cumberland lead.
Bethel led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a solo home run by Morgan to cut Cumberland's lead down to 6-4.
The Wildcats loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth but fell short, falling 6-4.
CU outhit the Cats 12-9.
Daniel Alvarez was the winning pitcher for Cumberland. Torres pitched out of the ninth inning jam and earned his second save on the day. Bethel starter Alexis Rodriguez suffered the loss.
The Wildcats dropped to 10-20 overall and 8-12 in the MSC. The Wildcats have lost four in a row.
The Phoenix improved to 25-16 and 14-3. CU has won five in a row and 14 of their last 15 outings.
The Wildcats return to play Monday hosting Blue Mountain in a non-conference affair. The first pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.
Live stats:
https://bethelathletics.com/sports/bsb/2021-22/boxscores/20220408_f5oa.xml
Live video:
