WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. – Kassydi Montgomery was 4-for-5 with three runs scored, Vienna Benavides and Tessa Tomaselli each had three hits and Cumberland stranded the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position, surviving for a 7-6 victory in the second game of a doubleheader against the University of the Cumberlands here Friday at Briar Creek Park.

The Bulldogs (8-14, 4-4 Mid-South) dropped the opening game, 12-8, despite a pair of home runs and three runs scored from Brittany Rasmussen along with two hits by Montgomery, who was 6-for-9 with three RBIs and five runs scored in the twinbill.

Cumberland scored three times each in the first and second innings in the second contest and Montgomery’s solo homer, her sixth of the season, gave CU a 7-3 lead after three innings. The Patriots (15-7, 4-4) scored single runs in the fifth and sixth innings and could have taken the lead in the sixth if not for a tremendous sliding catch in rightcenter to end the inning by Brianna Gregory. The freshman’s grab of a liner by Keli Bruning with the bases loaded saved at least two runs and maybe more.

Jessica Roper, playing in her first two games of the season, along with Gregory each had RBI singles and Rasmussen plated a run with a sacrifice fly in the first inning of the contest. Giselle Delgado’s solo homer and Roper’s two-run double plated three more runs in the second before the solo shot by Montgomery made it a 7-3 game.

UC scored a run in the fifth thanks to a sac fly by Chesney Williams and got an unearned run in the sixth after Delgado’s throw to second on a ground ball got away, allowing Missy Buchanan to score on the play.

Another error and a bunt single from Kaylee James loaded the bases, but Ashleigh Hopf grounded into a 3-2-4 doubleplay before Gregory’s circus catch in rightcenter ended the inning without any further damage.

The Patriots got another chance in the seventh, though, thanks to one-out singles from Jill Bunnell and Buchanan. With two outs Erin Humphrey’s grounded off the arm of Benavides at second, loading the bases, but James grounded to third to end the game, giving the Bulldogs a split of the doubleheader.

Leah Newsome (3-8) picked up the win for CU, allowing three earned runs on 12 hits with one walk and one strikeout. UC starter Taryn Sigl (1-2) took the loss, giving up six runs on nine hits in 1.1 innings.

In the opener Cumberland scored a run in the first when Montgomery drew a leadoff walk, went to second on a sacrifice bunt from Benavides and scored on Tomaselli’s single to rightcenter.

Sigl was hit in the elbow with one out in the bottom of the inning and Bethany Davis followed with the first of her two home runs in the first game, this one to leftfield, for a 2-1 Patriots edge.

In the second Rasmussen’s line drive stayed just fair down the leftfield line for a solo homer, tying the game at two, but that didn’t last long.

Mary Beth Hogue singled with one out and with two outs, James bunted back to CU pitcher Kristen Abell, but her throw was wide of the bag, opening the door for another big inning. Sigl then singled to center, plating one run, and Davis dumped a double down the rightfield line that bounced away from Rasmussen, scoring two more runs for a 5-2 advantage.

Bruning started the UC third with a single and a bunt from Williams got by everyone charging for a single. Humphrey’s sac bunt pushed the runners to second and third and Hogue’s single to center scored one run. Nicol Chesley then flied out to right, plating another run for a 7-2 UC lead.

Neither team scored again until the sixth when Delgado and Rasmussen both walked for the Bulldogs. Montgomery then doubled off the wall in left, scoring two runs, and with two outs Tomaselli singled again to rightcenter, driving in Montgomery and cutting the deficit to 7-5.

The Patriots answered again, with Chesley drawing a leadoff walk and going to second on a sac bunt by James. Sigl then walked and Davis drilled her second homer of the game, this one a three-run shot to dead centerfield.

UC wasn’t done though, as Ashleigh Hopf doubled after the homer and so did Bruning, putting runners on second and third. Williams then singled up the middle, scoring two more runs for a 12-5 advantage.

The Bulldogs scored three times in the seventh, starting with a one-out walk to Maryah Cohen. Katelynn Stoll singled to center and with two outs, Rasmussen lined her second home run of the day over the wall in left, but Montgomery popped out to second to end the contest.

Chesley (9-1) got the win for the Patriots despite allowing eight runs on 10 hits. She walked seven and struck out one. The Bulldogs stranded eight runners in the contest.

Abell (5-5) took the loss, giving up nine earned runs on 10 hits in 5.1 innings. She walked four and did not strikeout a batter.

The Bulldogs started the second game with four straight hits, all singles from Montgomery, Benavides, Tomaselli and Roper, the final one driving home a run. Rasmussen plated a run with a sacrifice fly to center and Gregory followed with an infield single, plating Tomaselli for a 3-0 lead after a half inning.

The Patriots answered right back after a two-out single to center from Davis. Bruning then belted a high drive over the wall in left, cutting the CU lead to 3-2.

Delgado led off the second inning with a solo homer to left, her first of the year, before a double by Montgomery and a single from Benavides. Roper then doubled off the wall in center, scoring two runs and ending the day for Sigl in the circle.

Montgomery’s solo homer in the third, her sixth of the season, made it a 7-2 CU lead.

The Patriots got a run back in the bottom of the inning when James singled through the left side to leadoff and went to second on a bunt by Kristen Moran. Bruning singled through the left side with two outs, putting runners on the corners, and Williams’ grounder to short looked like it would end the inning, but Delgado’s throw to first was in the dirt, allowing a run to score.

In the fifth Ashleigh Hopf and Davis led off with singles, putting runners on the corners, and pinch-runner Cassandra Johnson stole second. Williams’ sac fly to left with one out scored Hopf for a 7-4 CU lead.

Buchanan started the sixth with a single for the Patiots and Laurel Hopf’s grounder to short was thrown away by Delgado. Buchanan never stopped running on the play and scored from first when the ball got away in foul territory. Newsome got out of the inning with no more runs scoring thanks to Gregory’s sliding grab to end the frame.

Cumberland and the Patriots play the final two games of the series Saturday beginning at 10 a.m. Central Time.