HENDERSON, Tenn. – Tessa Tomaselli went 4-for-5 with five RBIs and Kassydi Montgomery collected three hits and scored four times in Cumberland’s 14-12 victory over Freed-Hardeman here Monday at Morgan Stadium. The Bulldogs dropped the second game of the doubleheader, 10-1, to the Lions.

The first game of the twinbill featured 26 runs, 36 hits and seven errors as well as 20 runners left on base. Katelyn Nowakowski also collected three hits and Tomaselli scored three times in the victory. Tomaselli’s two-run single in the sixth provided some insurance for the Bulldogs (4-8), who took a 14-9 advantage with the base hit.

Kristen Abell (4-1) tossed six innings for the win in the circle and Leah Newsome stranded a pair of runners in the seventh for her first save.

In the second game Kamara Trice (3-1) allowed one run on four hits in five innings to get the victory for Freed-Hardeman (6-5).

The Bulldogs got three runs in the first inning of the opener, starting with a leadoff double from Montgomery. Vienna Benavides bunted her to third and Tomaselli singled to center for a quick 1-0 lead.

Kaleigh Pearce followed with a single to center and Sydney Broderick walked, loading the bases. Nowakowski lined to short for the second out, but Madison Gonzalez doubled off the base of the centerfield wall, plating a pair of runs for a 3-0 advantage after a half inning.

A pair of walks allowed the Lions to get back into the contest in the bottom of the inning. Katie Sholl and Amanda Bond both drew free passes before Mallory Spurlock helped herself with a three-run homer to rightcenter.

Cumberland came back with four runs in the second inning after Brittany Rasmussen led off with a walk and Montgomery blooped a single into short center. Benavides bunted, but the throw from FHU’s Trice pulled the second baseman off the bag.

Tomaselli then grounded to Trice, but her throw was wild again and got down the rightfield line. Benavides never stopped running and scored from first on the play for a 6-3 CU lead. Two batters later Broderick doubled down the leftfield line, pushing across Tomaselli for a 7-3 advantage.

FHU scored in their half of the inning thanks to a pair of errors by the Bulldogs.

Carter singled to center to start the inning and Sholl bunted right in front of the plate, but Sholl ran into the glove of Benavides at first, knocking the ball from her glove. Carter went all the way to third on the play. Sholl stole second and Broderick tried to pick off the runner at third, but the throw hit the helmet of Trice in the batter’s box and bounced out of play, allowing Carter to score.

Trice also bunted and Broderick’s throw pulled Benavides off the bag, putting runners on the corners. Bond then singled to left, scoring Sholl and cutting the CU advantage to 7-5.

The Bulldogs added to the lead in the third, starting with a walk to Abell. After a groundout by Rasmussen, Montgomery singled to left, putting runners on the corners, before an RBI single to left by Benavides.

Tomaselli dumped a single down the leftfield line, loading the bases, and Pierce followed with a double to leftcenter. Two runners scored on the play but Tomaselli was gunned down at the plate, or so it seemed, but catcher Madison Reed dropped the ball on the tag, allowing her to come across for an 11-5 advantage.

Sholl singled in the bottom of the inning with two outs and Trice doubled down the leftfield line, plating the run, but Nowakowski made a circus catch in deep leftfield off the bat of Bond to end the inning without any further damage.

Rasmussen and Montgomery both walked with one out in the fourth and pinch-runner Katelynn Stoll came across on Tomaselli’s two-out single to left for a 12-6 CU lead.

The Lions got three runs in the bottom of the inning on four hits, beginning with consecutive singles from Spurlock and Allie Carpenter. The runners moved up on a wild pitch and a line drive to rightcenter by Jessica Weeks was snagged on a terrific running catch by Gonzalez, but Spurlock scored on the play.

Kohnley Wade then singled up the middle and stole second before a bunt in front of the plate by Carter. Broderick tried to pick up the ball and tag Carpenter, but she slid in under the tag. Sholl followed with a single up the middle, cutting the Cumberland lead to 12-9.

The Bulldogs got two insurance runs in the sixth, with pinch-hitter Maryah Cohen singling to start the inning and going to second on Stoll’s sac bunt. Montgomery was walked and Benavides grounded to the pitcher, pushing the runners to second and third. Tomaselli dumped a single into short left, plating both runners for a 14-9 CU lead.

The Lions answered with three runs in their half of the frame, starting with a one-out bunt single by Weeks. Carter singled to right with two outs and Sholl hit a slow roller to the right side. Tomaselli’s underhand toss to first got away, allowing a run to score, and Trice blooped a single into short rightcenter, plating two more and cutting the Bulldog advantage to 14-12.

In the seventh Bradley singled sharply off the glove of Montgomery at third base with one out and Weeks singled to left with two outs, putting the tying run on first, but Newsome induced a game-ending groundout from Wade to end the contest.

Cumberland got on the board first in the second game as well, with Montgomery drawing a leadoff walk and moving to second on Benavides’ bunt. Tomaselli singled to right, putting runners on the corners, and Montgomery slid under the tag on a ground ball to short off the bat of Pearce.

The Lions quickly answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning. Carter singled to right and went to second on Sholl’s sac bunt. Trice then doubled into leftcenter, plating a run, and two batters later Sierra Bateman singled to center, pushing across another for a 2-1 FHU edge.

In the second Bo Sullivan led off with a single for the Lions and with two outs, Sholl walked, setting the table for Trice, who doubled off the centerfield wall, plating a run. Spurlock then singled to right, scoring two more for a 5-1 FHU advantage.

Freed-Hardeman broke open the game with five runs in the fourth, sending 10 batters to the plate.

Trice singled and Spurlock and Bateman both walked to start the frame, but pinch-runner Reed was picked off at third. Lauren Bradley singled to center, loading the bases again, before a two-run double to deep rightfield by Weeks. Sullivan’s ground ball to short took a bad hop on Pearce, hitting her in the chin, loading the bases for the third time in the inning.

With two outs Carter doubled to leftcenter, plating two runs, and Sholl followed with an RBI single up the middle for the final runs of the contest.
Trice used three doubleplays to work around three walks and CU’s four hits in the game.

Cumberland hosts NCAA Division II Rockhurst University on Wednesday at 1 p.m. before opening Mid-South Conference play at home this weekend with a pair of doubleheaders against Shawnee State.