LEBANON, Tenn. – David Fanshawe’s third hit of the game drove in the winning run in the opener and top-ranked Cumberland split a doubleheader against No. 24 Brewton-Parker on Saturday, winning 7-6 and falling 13-0 in five innings at Ernest L. Stockton Field.
Fanshawe doubled once and singled twice for the Bulldogs in their victory and was named the Music City Star of the Game for his efforts. His double started a two-run inning that tied the game at five in the fifth and an RBI single in the sixth looked to be the game-winner before the Barons (12-3) tied the contest in the top of the seventh. But Fanshawe lined a two-out single to left for the winning run in the bottom of the frame and the win.
Cumberland (8-2) won 2-of-3 games in the series against the visitors and trailed just 2-0 in the second game of the day before BPC exploded for nine runs in the fourth en route to the 13-0 triumph.
Daniel Miller (3-0) allowed just one hit, walked three and struck out four in the five-inning victory for the Barons. Michael Pleau went 3-for-3 with three runs scored and two RBIs in the game, while Robert Harris hit a three-run homer and three other BPC players collected two hits and two RBIs apiece.
Mike Mandarino (2-1) took the loss for Cumberland, seeming to lose command in the fourth. The righthander gave up seven runs on five hits, walking two and striking out three.
Tommy Winegardner and Tommy Crews both recorded a pair of hits for CU in the opener, with Winegardner scoring the winning run after legging out a double on a ball hit to leftcenter. Cory Farris also hit his team-leading fifth home run of the season, a two-run shot that gave the Bulldogs a lead in the first inning.
Winegardner (1-0) also got the win on the mound for the home team after a blown save chance when the tying run scored on a passed ball. Jacob Gore (4-1) took the loss for BPX, allowing two runs on four hits in 3.1 innings of relief.
The Bulldogs got on the board early of the opener with three runs in the first.
Greg Appleton’s high fly ball was lost in the sun by BPC rightfielder Josh Palmer, allowing him to reach third. Winegardner followed with a looping single into center before Farris belted a two-run homer just to the right of the batter’s eye for a 3-0 advantage after an inning.
The Barons scored once in the second, but CU starter Will Locante avoided any further damage.
Errick Fox drew a one-out walk and Pleau beat out an infield single. Kelvin Espinoza fisted a single into short right before a sacrifice fly from Derrick Fox plated his brother.
Randall Shepherd led off the BPC third with a solo homer just over the wall down the leftfield line. The visitors scored three more times in the inning thanks to a pair of Bulldog errors.
Fernando Frias reached when Winegardner’s throw from short sailed over Appleton’s head. Jacob Evors then singled just past Winegardner and Palmer singled to center past a diving T.J. Murphy.
Frias scored on a slow roller by Errick Fox, but Locante looked to get out of the inning after a strikeout of Pleau. Espinoza lined out to right, but Farris dropped the ball, allowing two runners to score for a 5-3 BPC lead.
The Bulldogs tied the game in the bottom of the fourth after a leadoff double to leftcenter from Fanshawe. Crews’ cue shot turned into an infield single and Richie Seaton plated a run with a single to rightcenter. Pinch-runner Ben Foster scored on a ground ball by Murphy, knotting the score at five.
CU took the lead in the sixth when Mandarino doubled with two outs and scored on a fisted single into leftcenter from Fanshawe.
But the Barons tied the score again in the seventh, starting with a leadoff single to center by Errick Fox. Pleau’s sacrifice bunt moved the runner to second and a long fly ball from Espinoza pushed Fox to third. He scored on a passed ball for a 6-6 contest.
CU came right back in the bottom of the inning, with Winegardner legging out a double with one out. Farris was hit and Daniel Harrison’s long fly ball allowed Winegardner to move to third. Fanshawe’s third hit of the game was a solid single to left, scoring the winning run in a marathon game that lasted almost three hours.
Locante exited the game one batter into the fifth inning after a sharp ground ball hit his leg and then bounced up into his jaw. The lefthander allowed five runs, two earned, on six hits with three walks and two strikeouts.
BPC starter Ricky Rogers lasted three-plus innings, giving up five runs on six hits with two strikeouts.
In the second game Brewton-Parker scored twice in the third inning to take an early lead. Palmer lined a solo homer over the wall in right to leadoff the frame and Pleau followed with a single to left.
Espinoza then put down a sacrifice bunt and the throw to second was dropped. Derrick Fox sacrificed both runners up a base and Shepherd’s sacrifice fly put the Barons ahead, 2-0.
BPC opened up the game with nine runs in the fourth, starting with a leadoff walk to Evors. Errick Fox reached on an infield single with one out and Palmer walked, loading the bases, before consecutive two-run singles from Pleau and Espinoza, chasing Mandarino from the contest.
Derrick Fox walked against reliever Pat Corrigan and Shepherd followed with a single. Frias singled home a run and Harris lined a three-run shot down the rightfield line for an 11-0 advantage.
The Barons added two more runs in the fifth on an RBI single by Shepherd and a run-scoring double from Frias.
Cumberland hosts Indiana Tech in a doubleheader Sunday at 1 p.m. at Ernest L. Stockton Field.
