LEBANON, Tenn. – Cumberland fell behind early, tied the game and then allowed a late run in a pair of losses Tuesday, dropping 5-4 decisions against 25th-ranked Judson University and 14th-ranked Missouri Baptist.

The Bulldogs (13-8-1) will play West Virginia Tech in a doubleheader Wednesday at Noon at Ernest L. Stockton Field-Woody Hunt Stadium before returning to Mid-South Conference action this weekend when CU travels to the University of Pikeville for a three-game series. Those game times have been changed because of forecasted inclement weather, with the teams playing a doubleheader at Noon Eastern Time on Friday and a single game at Noon Eastern Time on Saturday.

Tyler Anderson collected three hits and three RBIs in the first game, as the Bulldogs scored three times in the bottom of the sixth to knot the score at four, but an error in the seventh allowed the Eagles (8-9) to plate the winning run.

Josciel Veras had two hits and scored twice and Craig Monson added two hits in the loss for CU. Monson (0-2) also took the defeat on the mound, allowing the one unearned run on one hit in 1.2 innings. Cumberland starter Evin Einhardt gave up two runs without getting an out in the first inning but then settled down, giving up four runs on eight hits with four walks and five strikeouts in 5.1 innings.

In the second game Cory Urquhart and Daniel Harrison each posted two hits and the Bulldogs held a 4-3 edge before allowing single runs in the fourth and fifth to the Spartans (7-5). Nick Conley (0-1) suffered the loss for CU, giving up five runs on seven hits in 4.1 innings.

Cumberland left the bases loaded in the fifth and one runner in the sixth before Matt Marsh got the final four outs for MBU, including striking out the side in the seventh for the save.

Judson scored twice in the first inning before Einhardt recorded an out, with Johnny Amann drawing a leadoff walk before walks to Mark DeYoung and Tony Rallo loaded the bases. Cameron Balough’s single to leftcenter put the Eagles ahead, 2-0, but the CU righthander settled down and did not allow another run in the inning.

CU got a run back in the second when Veras singled with two outs and Chris Hall walked before an RBI single to leftcenter from Anderson.

Judson plated two more runs in the fifth after Amann doubled to leadoff and DeYoung’s grounder moved pinch-runner Nick Norris to third. Rallo’s line drive to center scored Norris. With two outs Balough doubled down the leftfield line before an RBI single through the left side by Josh Raymond for a 4-1 advantage.

The Bulldogs tied the game in the sixth, starting with a one-out walk to Brodie Ross. With two outs Veras singled to center and Hall beat out an infield single, loading the bases. Anderson’s single to right plated two runs and pinch-runner Justin Johnston and Hall pulled off the double steal, knotting the contest at four.

In the seventh Raymond walked with one out and Luke Rojas followed with a single. With runners on the corners, Brian Brauer grounded to third, but Johnston, who pinch-ran in the sixth, booted the ball, allowing Raymond to score the winning run.

Ross and Harrison both singled with one out in the seventh, but reliever Luke Keller got a pair of groundouts to end the game, picking up his first save. Cody Love, the third of four Judson hurlers, posted the win with two-thirds of an inning of work.

Missouri Baptist took an early lead in the nightcap at Veterans Field, starting with a leadoff single by Patrick Johnson, who stole second and moved to third on a fly ball by Joseph Taylor. Ryan Gunhouse bounced into a potential inning-ending doubleplay, but the relay throw to first by Veras was wild, allowing the run to score.

In the second MBU’s Ricky Pagan doubled with two outs and scored on a single by Mykol Sostarich, who stole second and came across on Johnson’s single down the rightfield line.

The Bulldogs tied the game in the bottom of the inning after Johnston was hit and Hall walked. Anderson plated a run with a single down the rightfield line and Hall came across on a sacrifice fly by Tyler Alford. Urquhart doubled to center with two outs, scoring Anderson and knotting the game at three.

In the third Harrison doubled to rightcenter with two outs before a single on the left side by Johnston gave the Bulldogs a 4-3 lead.
But the Spartans came right back in the fourth, with Garrett Vail hitting a solo homer to left to tie the game again.

In the fifth Johnson led off with a single while Pier Olivier-Dostaler walked and Gunhouse was hit, loading the bases. Ryan Clarke then singled to center, giving MBU a 5-4 edge.

Cumberland loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning when Ross walked, Harrison singled and Hall was hit, but Anderson flied out to end the threat.