LEBANON, Tenn. – Rob Holley collected three hits and Nick Flanagan hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in a five-run seventh inning, giving Martin Methodist a 7-5 victory over seventh-ranked Cumberland in the first of three games Friday night at Sam Davis Park.

The Bulldogs (16-11, 6-2 TranSouth) led 5-2 heading into the seventh before the RedHawks (18-11, 2-2) plated five runs on four hits and a walk, saddling CU starter Chipper Smith (4-4) with a loss. The lefthander allowed seven runs on 10 hits with four walks and nine strikeouts in 6.1 innings.

Cory Urquhart led the Bulldogs with two hits, including a solo homer, and scored twice, but Cumberland stranded 12 baserunners in the contest, including nine in the first five innings. Mike Mandarino also finished with three hits for CU.

MMC Kerry Workman also pitched 6.1 innings, giving up five runs on seven hits with seven walks and five strikeouts. Marcus Green (4-0) walked one and struck out one in two-thirds of an inning to pick up the victory and Brock Glass tossed two scoreless innings for the save.

Urquhart led off the game with a home run to centerfield, his first of the season, and the Bulldogs loaded the bases later in the inning after Lind was hit, Josh McGee reached on an error and Brodie Ross walked, but Cody Ferrell lined out to end the inning.

The RedHawks tied the contest in the bottom of the inning and could have had more. Ryan Jett led off with a walk, went to second on a passed ball and scored on a single to left from Matt Thomas. He was thrown out trying to steal before Rob Holley doubled to center, but Nick Flanagan struck out to end the inning.

In the third McGee walked with one out and moved to third on a single down the rightfield line from Nick Sydnor. Ross lined out to left, but deep enough for McGee to score for a 2-1 CU edge.

MMC tied the game again in the fourth when Thomas led off with a double, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sac fly from Flanagan. But the Bulldogs answered in the next half-inning, starting with a single to center by Mike Mandarino. With two outs Ross and Ferrell both walked and Tyler Wheeler delivered an RBI single up the middle for a 3-2 advantage.

In the fifth Urquhart led off with a single and scored on Mandarino’s one-out double and CU plated another run in the seventh when Ross drew a leadoff walk, pinch-runner Antonio Butler stole second and third and scored on a sac fly by Will Henderson.

Smith seemed to settle down after a rocky start, but everything came unraveled in the bottom of the seventh.

Justin McQueen led off with a single and went to third on an errant pickoff throw. Matt Franklin walked with one out, putting runners on the corners, before an RBI single from Thomas. Holley’s second double of the game plated two runs and tied the contest at five. Flanagan followed with a two-run homer against reliever Micah Rainer, giving the RedHawks a 7-5 advantage.

Mandarino singled with one out in the eighth, but it was CU’s only baserunner over the final two innings.

The two teams conclude the series with a Noon doubleheader Saturday. The Bulldogs return home Tuesday and Wednesday to face Campbellsville University and Georgetown College, both at 2 p.m. at Ernest L. Stockton Field-Woody Hunt Stadium.