LEBANON, Tenn. – Justin Byrd posted two hits and two RBIs but Cumberland stranded the tying and/or winning runs on base in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings in a 4-3 loss to Martin Methodist on Tuesday at Ernest L. Stockton Field-Woody Hunt Field.

The Bulldogs (16-24) play again Wednesday at Union University at 5 p.m. before opening a three-game series against 15th-ranked Campbellsville University this weekend on the road.

All three of Cumberland’s runs were unearned and came in the third inning against MMC starter Zack Brewer (5-2), who picked up the win. The righthander gave up five hits with no walks and two strikeouts in six innings of work. Cody Vernon got the final three outs for the RedHawks (21-14) for his second save, but not without giving up two walks before striking out Phil Stiles to end the contest.

Ryan Dickison collected two hits and drove in the other run for Cumberland, but CU managed just six hits in the game.

Caleb Lindsey placed Martin Methodist with three hits while Seth Staggs and Brandon Bush each posted two hits. Bush and Lindsey also drove in two runs apiece and Staggs scored twice for MMC.

CU starter Andrew Woodfin (0-3) suffered the loss, giving up four runs on six hits in 4.2 innings. He walked four and struck out one. Curtis Hoppe tossed the final 4.1 innings, allowing no runs on four hits with two strikeouts.

Staggs doubled with two outs in the first inning and Evan Ferguson walked before an RBI single from Bush gave the visitors an early lead.

Cumberland took the lead in the third inning thanks to a pair of hits and an error.

Brandon Larson was hit to start the inning and Ryan Simmons moved the runner to second with a sacrifice bunt. Stiles reached on a throwing error by third baseman Jimbo Ramsey, putting runners on the corners. With two outs Byrd tripled down the rightfield line, plating both runners, and Dickison followed with an RBI single to center for a 3-1 CU advantage.

Martin Methodist regained the lead in the fifth with three runs of their own on two hits and two walks.

Woodfin for the first two outs of the inning but then walked Staggs and Ferguson. Bush doubled down the leftfield line, scoring one run, and Lindsey followed with a two-run double, putting the RedHawks ahead for good.

Jake Collier led off the Bulldog seventh with a single but was stranded at third, while Byrd singled with one out in the eighth but was left at second. In the ninth Vernon walked Larson and pinch-hitter Kyle Allen, both with two outs, before striking out Stiles to end the game. The Bulldogs were just 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position in the loss.