BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – St. Catharine College scored five times in the sixth inning to break open a close game, including two-run singles from Alfredo Bohorquez and Harold Diaz, and Conner Lindsay tossed seven shutout innings of relief for the win in an 8-6 victory over Cumberland on Saturday in the Mid-South Conference Baseball Championships.

The Bulldogs scored three times in the ninth thanks to an RBI double from Justin Byrd and a two-run double by Ryan Dickison, but Jonathan Larson grounded out to end the game. With the loss the season ends for CU (20-31) while the Patriots move on to play Lindsey Wilson in the championship game of the tournament later in the day.

Cumberland loaded the bases twice and had nine total baserunners in the first three innings but scored just two runs, missing numerous opportunities to build a sizable lead early in the contest. St. Catharine tied the game with single runs in the third and fourth, but Tyler Alford’s RBI single in the fifth allowed the Bulldogs to regain the lead.

Santiago Arce’s groundout in the sixth tied the game at three and a one-out error by CU third baseman Ryan Simmons on a bunt opened the door for the big inning. The two-run singles by Bohorquez and Diaz followed with two outs in the inning, giving SCC a 7-3 lead. The Patriots added another run in the seventh before the three-run ninth for the Bulldogs fell short.

Phil Stiles collected three hits and scored three times for Cumberland and Justin Byrd added two hits and two RBIs, but the bottom five players in the lineup combined to go 1-for-18. Dickison had the only hit among those players and drove in three runs.

Cameron Lenz tossed five-plus innings for the Bulldogs but got no decision, allowing three runs on three hits with five walks. Curtis Hoppe (1-3) suffered the loss, giving up five runs on five hits in one-plus inning of work.

Lindsay (3-0) was the story for the Patriots, coming on in the third inning and allowing just one run on five hits through the eighth before running into trouble in the final inning. He walked two and struck out five.

The Bulldogs plated a run in the top of the first but could have had more.

Stiles singled up the middle to leadoff and Hector Viera walked before an RBI single to left by Byrd. After a fielder’s choice, Dickison walked, loading the bases, but Larson grounded into an inning-ending 6-4-3 doubleplay.

In the second Conor Dishman and Simmons both walked to start the frame but Jarrett Plunkett’s sacrifice attempt was unsuccessful and Stiles bounced into a 5-3 doubleplay to end the inning.

Cumberland loaded the bases to start the third inning with a single by Viera while Byrd was hit and Alford walked, ending the day for SCC starter Omar Hernandez. Dickison’s fly ball to rightcenter scored Viera, but Larson struck out and Byrd took third on a wild pitch but was thrown out at the plate trying to score on the same play.

The Patriots cut into the CU lead in the bottom of the inning when Tyler Devine led off with a single but was forced out on a grounder by Josh Wenning, who stole second. Drew Kissel walked and both runners moved up on a pair of wild pitches, making it 2-1. Lenz worked out of the jam despite another free pass with a line out from Bohorquez and a ground out by Diaz.

St. Catharine knotted the score in the fourth after Francisco Gonzalez was hit and Nick Rosso singled to start the inning. Arce’s sac bunt pushed the runners to second and third and Devine’s line drive to left scored Gonzalez, but Wenning bounced to first to end the inning.

Cumberland retook the lead in the fifth but again missed an opportunity for more after Stiles led off with a single and Byrd walked with one out. Alford’s single to left scored Stiles, but Dickison struck out and Larson grounded out to end the inning without any more runs.

The Patriots broke open the game with a five-run sixth inning helped by a misplayed bunt.

Gonzalez started the inning with a single, ending the day for Lenz, and Rosso singled up the middle, putting runners on the corners. Arce’s groundout plated Gonzalez, tying the game again.

Devine then walked and Wenning’s bunt was mishandled by Simmons, loading the bases. Hoppe struck out Kissel, but Bohorquez and Diaz both collected two-run singles, giving St. Catharine a 7-3 advantage.

In the seventh Gonzalez led off with a triple to left and Rosso doubled down the rightfield line, extending the SCC lead to 8-3 and ending the day for Hoppe.

Cumberland made it close in the ninth when Stiles walked with one out and stole second. Byrd doubled down the rightfield line with two outs and Alford was hit before Dickison’s two-run double to rightcenter.