LEBANON, Tenn. – David Higuera collected three hits and six RBIs and Brian Smith drove in five runs, as Georgetown College pounded out 22 hits in defeating seventh-ranked Cumberland, 18-8, in eight innings Wednesday at Ernest L. Stockton Field-Woody Hunt Stadium.

The Bulldogs (18-13) used six pitchers in the loss to the Tigers (23-4), who scored three times in the second and seventh innings, six runs in the third, four runs in the sixth and twice in the eighth to end the game by the run rule after eight innings.

Higuera hit a grand slam in the third inning and had RBI singles in the sixth and seventh. Smith belted a three-run homer in the sixth inning and drove in runs in the second and seventh.

Georgetown’s Chris Villalobos (3-0) tossed 5.1 innings of relief to pick up the victory, allowing one run on four hits with no walks. He hit two batters and struck out one. GC starter Matt Smith gave up seven runs on five hits in 2.2 innings.

CU starter Matt McFarland (0-1) took the loss, allowing six runs on six hits in 3.1 innings. Four other reliever gave up 12 runs on 16 hits in 5.2 innings.

Sam Lind posted three hits and Josh McGee and Cody Ferrell each had two hits while Lind and McGee each registered two RBIs for the Bulldogs.

All nine starters for the Tigers had at least two hits, with Higuera, EJ Murray, Mike Steinke and Ryan Serrato all collecting three hits.

The Tigers scored three times in the second inning to take an early lead, starting with leadoff singles from Murray and Serrato. Jordan Hinshaw’s double off the base of the wall in leftcenter plated two runs and he scored on a single to leftcenter by Brian Smith.

But CU answered with five runs in the bottom of the inning thanks to a pair of home runs.

Mike Mandarino drew a leadoff walk before McGee belted an 0-2 fastball high and deep over the wall in rightfield for his third homer of the year. Ferrell then reached on an infield single and Craig Monson walked before Will Henderson’s line drive to leftcenter just cleared the wall for a three-run shot and a 5-3 Bulldog edge.

That lead was short-lived, as Georgetown came back with six runs in the third on six hits. Randy Guite drew a leadoff walk and consecutive bunt singles by Steinke and Murray loaded the bases and Higuera belted a long drive just to the right of the batter’s eye for a grand slam and Higuera’s first homer of the season.

Hinshaw then singled, stole second and went to third on a throwing error by the catcher. He scored on a two-out infield single by Tanner Baldwin, who moved to second on a balk and scored on a single up the middle by Chris Wood for a 9-5 advantage.

The Bulldogs answered with two runs in their half of the inning and could have had more, with Lind leading off with a homer to leftcenter. McGee singled with one out before walks to Monson, Heath Holliday and Henderson forced in a run, but Cory Urquhart popped out with the bases still loaded to end the inning with CU down 9-7.

The Tigers added four more runs in the sixth, again using the long ball to put crooked numbers on the scoreboard.

Murray and Serrato both singled before an RBI single to center from Higuera. Two batters later Brian Smith belted a three-run homer to leftfield, giving Georgetown a 13-7 advantage. The Tigers scored three times in the seventh and twice more in the eighth for the victory.

Cumberland entertains Bethel University this weekend in a three-game series. Check www.GoCumberlandAthletics.com for updates on series dates and times with impending weather forecast for the area this weekend.