LEBANON, Tenn. – Richie Seaton hit a bases-clearing double and Daniel Kern worked into the seventh inning in the opener and Mike Mandarino belted a three-run homer and Cory Farris scored from first on a double by David Fanshawe in the second game, as No. 1 Cumberland swept a doubleheader from Georgetown College by identical 5-4 scores Tuesday at Ernest L. Stockton Field.
Cumberland (25-11) has won six straight contests overall and hung on to win both games, taking a 5-2 lead in the first game. Keith Kirby got three ground balls with the tying run on base to pick up the save in the contest.
In the second game the Bulldogs scored four times in the first inning, but Georgetown (20-16) tied the contest with four runs in the fifth. Farris singled in the sixth and was off on the pitch as Fanshawe doubled into rightcenter. Tyler Fisher bobbled the ball and Farris never stopped, coming around with the go-ahead run.
Tommy Winegardner tossed a shutout inning for his fourth save of the season, walking a batter in the inning, but Fanshawe threw out the would-be basestealer.
Fanshawe and Winegardner both collected four hits in the twinbill, while Farris had three hits and scored three times. Fanshawe was named the Music City Star of the Game for his efforts.
Seaton delivered the big blow for Cumberland in the first game, a bases-clearing double in the fourth inning. He later scored on a single from Greg Appleton that gave the Bulldogs a 5-2 advantage and the home team hung on from there.
Kern (4-0) worked into the seventh inning, allowing four runs on seven hits, to post the victory. The righthander retired seven straight batters in the middle innings and gave way to Kirby after running into trouble in the seventh.
Kirby allowed a single but then got three straight ground balls to end the game, picking up his third save of the season. It was Kirby’s first appearance since March 12, as the junior has been nursing an injury.
GC starter Travis McBride (1-3) took the loss but pitched well, giving up just two hard-hit balls and the one big hit to Seaton. The righthander allowed five runs on eight hits, walking two and striking out six in six innings.
In the second game Matt Vance (3-1), the third of four CU hurlers, posted the win with one shutout inning. Clay Hall (0-1), the second Georgetown pitcher, took the loss, giving up one run on five hits in two-plus innings.
The Tigers scored a run in the first inning of the opening game, with Randy Guite singling with one out before a double down the leftfield line from Fisher. Tyler Back’s groundout plated Guite for an early lead for the visitors.
Farris singled with one out and stole second for the Bulldogs in the second inning. Fanshawe’s bloop single into rightcenter scored the run to tie the contest at one.
Georgetown retook the lead in the third after a leadoff walk to Chris Wood. He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Guite and third on a groundout by Fisher before scoring on Back’s single to left.
Cumberland plated four runs in the fourth on five hits to take the lead for good, but the inning started with a leadoff walk to Mandarino. Farris singled up the middle, knocking the glove off McBride, and Fanshawe beat out an infield single with two outs, loading the bases.
Seaton then laced a double off the base of the wall in left, clearing the bases, and Appleton followed with an RBI single into left, giving the Bulldogs a 5-2 advantage.
The Tigers cut into the deficit with a run in the sixth after leadoff singles from Fisher and Back. Taylor Hatfield’s groundout moved the runners up and another ground ball, this one from Dylan Grandon, scored the run. Taylor Payne flied out to end the inning without any further damage.
Georgetown put the tying run on base in the seventh inning with back-to-back singles from Ellis Bowen and pinch-hitter Pete Thackston. Wood’s groundout plated Bowen and pinch-runner Tanner Baldwin reached third on another ground ball by Guite, but Fisher grounded to second base to end the contest.
The Bulldogs started quickly in the second game, scoring four times in the first inning.
Appleton led off with a solo homer to leftcenter, his sixth of the season. T.J. Murphy and Winegardner both followed with singles before Mandarino belted the first pitch over the wall in centerfield just to the left of the batter’s eye, giving CU a 4-0 edge after an inning.
Georgetown had six runners on base in the first four innings and finally took advantage of some opportunities in the fifth, scoring four times to tie the contest.
Bowen walked to leadoff the inning and Wood walked with one out. Two wild pitches pushed Bowen across before Fisher blasted a two-run homer to leftfield, his sixth of the year, cutting the Bulldog lead to 4-3.
Back was then hit, ending the day for Ferrell, who allowed four runs on three hits with four walks and two strikeouts in 4.2 innings.
Reliever Logan Neal allowed singles to pinch-hitter Cameron Allen and Thackston, the latter plating the tying run. Payne finally struck out to end the inning.
The Bulldogs looked to regain the lead in the bottom of the inning, with Murphy and Winegardner both singling to leadoff, putting runners on the corners. But Winegardner was pickoff off, Mandarino popped out and Crews struck out looking to end the threat.
Cumberland finally scored in the bottom of the sixth on Fanshawe’s double and the error by Fisher, and Winegardner made it stand up for the victory.
Cumberland hosts TranSouth Conference-leading Union University in a three-game series this weekend at Ernest L. Stockton Field. Friday’s single game starts at 2 p.m. and Saturday’s doubleheader starts at Noon.
