LEBANON, Tenn. – Ryan Dickison posted three hits and Mike Melendez drove in three runs, but Cumberland stranded the bases loaded in the eighth and ninth innings and 13 total in a 7-4 loss to 15th-ranked Keiser University on Tuesday in Daytona Beach, Fla.

The loss marked the fourth straight for the Phoenix (13-10), who dropped all three games in Florida over the last three days. Cumberland heads home to open Mid-South Conference play this weekend against Shawnee State.

Melendez put CU ahead, 3-0, in the top of the first with a bases-clearing triple, but the Seahawks (17-5) answered with a two-run homer from Keivan Berges in the bottom of the inning. Keiser struck for four runs in the third to take the lead for good, including an RBI single by Carlos Lopez and a two-out, bases-clearing double just inside the leftfield line from Jack Curtis.

The Curtis double ended the day for CU starter Mitch Langer (0-1), who allowed six runs on seven hits in 2.1 innings. Drew Chester pitched well in relief, giving up one run on three hits with three strikeouts in 5.2 innings to keep the Phoenix in the contest. Keiser managed just four baserunners in their final five at-bats and one of those came on an error.

Dickison and Steven Hollis singled around a walk to Ryan Simmons walk in the eighth for Cumberland and one run scored on a groundout by pinch-hitter Parker Cash. Gabe Lares was hit the load the bases again, but Nick McGrew ended the inning with a fly ball to rightcenter.

In the ninth Dickison and Simmons both singled with two outs, again with a walk to Melendez sandwiched in the middle, but Richard Carter’s line drive to right ended the contest.

Damian Boyum (3-1), the second of four Keiser hurlers, picked up the win with 1.1 scoreless innings of relief. Cort Miller got the save with 1.2 scoreless innings as well, allowing two hits and a walk.

Berges finished 2-for-2 with two RBIs and three runs scored and Curtis and Lopez each collected two hits for the Seahawks.

Cumberland started quickly with three runs in the first, with Lares and McGrew leadoff off the game with singles against Keiser starter Miguel Pena. Langer walked with one out and Melendez delivered a two-out triple down the leftfield line to empty the bases.

Gabby Mundo led off the bottom of the first with a single for the Seahawks and two batters later, Berges belted his two-run homer to leftcenter.

Dylan Dore doubled to start the third for Keiser before a walk to Berges and a single by Brad Myott loaded the bases. Lopez singled through the left side, plating a run, and two batters later Curtis drilled the bases-clearing double just inside the leftfield line for a 6-3 Seahawks advantage.

Cumberland had a chance to cut into the deficit in the seventh with one-out walks to Lares and McGrew, but Josh Croft and Langer both struck out against Austin Wilson, who walked three and struck out four in 1.1 innings for Keiser.

Berges doubled to start the bottom of the seventh and scored on a pair of wild pitches from Chester to increase the lead to 7-4 for the Seahawks.