LEBANON, Tenn. – Josh Croft posted three hits and Brian Conn added two off the bench, but Cumberland stranded 12 runners and Culver-Stockton took advantage of seven walks and seven hit batsmen to salvage the final game of the series, 7-3, on Saturday at Ernest L. Stockton Field-Woody Hunt Stadium.

Jake Pott posted two hits, one RBI and a run scored for the Wildcats (4-12) and Jordan Vazquez and Marvin Campos each collected two hits and one RBI for CSC.

Cumberland starter Caleb Pitts (0-2) walked four and hit five in four-plus innings of work, allowing four runs on four hits.

Vazquez’s two-out double in the second inning plated pinch-runner Danny Restrepo for a 1-0 Culver-Stockton lead, but the Phoenix (13-7) answered in the bottom of the frame with a solo homer from Mike Melendez.

The Wildcats took the lead for good with two runs in the third with an RBI single by Kevin Cali and another run came across on a doubleplay. CSC added single runs in the fifth and sixth on an RBI groundout by Alonso Ruz and a run-scoring infield hit from Pott.

Brandon Cotter’s walk forced in a run and a single to center by Campos scored another for the Wildcats in the seventh.

Ryan Simmons plated two runs in the ninth for Cumberland with a single on the left side, but it was too little, too late for the home team, who stranded two runners in the second, third, fourth and fifth innings and the bases loaded in the ninth.

Culver-Stockton starter Daniel Smith (1-3) scattered 11 hits and walked four in 8.2 innings, giving up three runs with eight strikeouts. Tyler Smith got the final out to post his first save.

Franklin Rojas walked to start the second inning for the Wildcats and Ruz was hit by the pitch before an infield doubleplay. Vazquez doubled to rightcenter with two outs, plating Restrepo for a 1-0 CSC edge.

Melendez erased the deficit in the bottom of the inning with a first-pitch homer to rightcenter, his first of the season.

Campos and Robin Felix both walked to leadoff the third for Culver-Stockton and Pott reached on a bunt single, loading the bases. Cali’s single up the middle plated one run, but Rojas grounded into a 6-4-3 doubleplay, plating a run but minimizing another more damage in the inning.

Pott, Cali and Rojas were all hit to start the fifth inning, ending the day for Pitts. Ruz’s groundout scored a run, but Drew Chester struck out Vazquez and Cali was caught trying to steal home.

In the sixth Cotter singled through the left side and ended up at third on the play after a throwing error by leftfield Richard Carter. He scored on Pott’s two-out infield single to extend the Wildcats lead to 5-1.

Sam Eichler started the seventh inning on the mound for Cumberland and walked Rojas before picking off Restrepo. Ruz then drew a free pass and Derek Ratermann reached on an error by third baseman Croft. Vazquez singled near the mound, loading the bases, before a Cotter walk forced in a run. Campos then singled to center to plate Ratermann and Vazquez was thrown out at the plate trying to score as well.

Jarrett Plunkett led off the bottom of the ninth with a single to center for CU and Steven Hollis singled with one out. A groundout put runners on the corners and Bo Saunders stole second before the two-run single by Simmons.

Taylor Dorsey then walked, ending the day for Daniel Smith, and Conn singled to the left side against Tyler Smith, loading the bases, but Melendez ended the game with a groundout to second.

Cumberland plays three games in the next three days on Spring Break, taking on Bellevue University on Sunday at 6 p.m. CT, Embry-Riddle on Monday at 5 p.m. CT and Keiser University on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. CT, all in Daytona Beach, Fla.