LEBANON, Tenn. – Cumberland scored eight runs in the first four innings and Cody Ferrell worked into the seventh inning in the seventh-ranked Bulldogs 8-3 win Wednesday night over No. 5 Embry-Riddle. CU defeated Aquinas College, 2-1, earlier in the day behind a strong performance from Mitch Rainer on the mound as well.

With the two wins, Cumberland (12-9) ends a nine-game road swing 5-4 and returns home this weekend for a conference series against Lyon College starting Saturday at Noon. The Bulldogs pounded out 12 hits in the first four innings against Embry-Riddle (17-6), including three apiece from Sam Lind and Josh McGee. Cory Urquhart collected two hits and scored three times as well, helping CU take a 8-0 advantage.

Ferrell (2-1) worked into the seventh inning and did not allow a hit until the sixth. He was effectively wild at times, walking four, hitting two batters and throwing two wild pitches, but he stranded Eagles runners in every inning but the second before running into trouble.

McGee finished 4-for-5 with three RBIs, Lind was 3-for-5 with a double, home run and three RBIs and Urquhart posted three hits and scored three times. The Bulldogs managed just two hits over the final five innings against two ERAU relievers, but did enough damage early to fend off the home team.

In the first game of the day, Rainer tossed six shutout innings, Keith Kirby for the final two outs and the Bulldogs collected just two hits in a 2-1 victory over Aquinas College (2-4).

Rainer (1-0) allowed just two hits through six innings before running into trouble in the seventh. He walked one and struck out four in his first start of the season.

The Saints put together three hits and scored a run against the righthander before Kirby came on to post his second save of the season, as Taylor Pawlanta lined out and Brent Steele grounded out to end the game.

Urquhart led off the bottom of the first with a single for CU, went to second on a passed ball, third on a groundout by Lind and scored on a sacrifice fly from Mike Mandarino.

Richie Seaton singled to start the Bulldogs third but was forced out on a grounder by Antonio Butler, but the senior stole second and third and scored on a wild pitch for a 2-0 CU edge. Cumberland had just three other baserunners in the game via an error, a walk and a hit batter.

Brent Butgeirit posted the first hit for Aquinas with a single in the third, but he was erased on a doubleplay, and Nick Kissane reached on catcher’s interference in the fourth, but he was stranded at first.

In the Saints fifth, Allen Manyen reached on an error by Urquhart and Austin King singled to start the inning, but Butgeirit bounced out and Pawlanta and Steele both popped out to end the threat.

In the seventh Michael Wood led off with a single and pinch-runner Elliot Drain stole second. He scored on King’s single to right and Butgeirit followed with a single before Kirby came on to get the last two outs.

Aquinas starter Ort Caleb (0-1) took the loss, giving up two runs on two hits with one walk and four strikeouts in six innings.

Against the Eagles Urquhart reached on an error to start the game and Lind followed with a two-run homer to right for an early 2-0 lead.

CU added four more runs in the third after leadoff singles from Urquhart and Lind and a walk to Mandarino, loading the bases. McGee drove in two runs with a single and two batters later Daniel Harrison plated two more runs with a single for a 6-0 Bulldogs advantage.

In the fourth Urquhart led off with a single and scored on Lind’s double. Mandarino and McGee both singled, pushing across another run and ending the day for ERAU starter Chad Modomo with CU leading 8-0.

The Eagles got on the board in the bottom of the inning when Jordan Romero walked and Ben Kline was hit to start the frame. Romero went to third on a wild pitch and scored on Ian MacGeorge’s groundout.

In the ERAU seventh Adam Cellini led off with a homer and Greg Smith and Frankie Arias both singled with one out. Pinch-hitter Garrett Gee walked, loading the bases and ending the day for Ferrell. Ben Kline lined out, driving home a run, and Chris Page lined out to end the inning with CU still leading 8-3.

The Eagles got two runners on base in the ninth against Mandarino, who got the final three outs, but Page struck out swinging to end the game.

Modomo allowed eight runs, six earned, on 12 hits in three-plus innings to take the loss.