LEBANON, Tenn. – Mike Melendez posted two hits and three RBIs, backing up a complete game from Erik Barron, who scattered seven hits and allowed one run in Cumberland’s 9-1 victory over the University of the Cumberlands in baseball action Friday at Ernest L. Stockton Field-Woody Hunt Stadium.

The Phoenix (20-16, 5-5 Mid-South) and Patriots (22-15, 3-7) end the series Saturday with a Noon doubleheader.

Melendez doubled home a run in the fifth and his two-run single was part of a four-run sixth inning that broke the game open for CU. Gabe Lares added a two-run single in the sixth as well and Barron did the rest.

The righthander worked nine innings for the second straight week, this time getting some run support to pick up his first victory of the season. Barron (1-1) walked two and struck out six, retiring 10 of the first 11 batters of the game and nine of the final 11.

Every starter except Nick McGrew had at least one hit, though Cumberland stranded nine baserunners in the win, including two in the second and sixth innings.

Kyle Allen plated a run with a double and Jarrett Plunkett added a sacrifice fly in a three-run second inning for CU.

Jose Alonzo collected two of the seven hits for the Cumberlands. UC starter Noah Gapp (4-2) gave up six runs on seven hits in 5.2 innings to take the loss, allowing five walks and striking out seven.

Cumberland struck first with three runs in the second, starting with a leadoff single by Josh Croft and he took second on a groundout by Lares. Ryan Simmons then singled to right, putting runners on the corners, and Croft scored on a wild pitch.

Allen then doubled to right, plating Simmons, and pinch-runner Bo Saunders went to third on a passed ball. He came across on Plunkett’s sac fly for a 3-0 CU advantage.

The Patriots got on the board in the fifth when Stone Osborne reached on an infield single to leadoff and moved to second on Reed Spata’s sacrifice bunt. Kevin Pantoja followed with an RBI double to left, but Barron got a groundout and a strikeout to end the inning without further damage.

Cumberland got the run back in the bottom of the frame with back-to-back doubles from Ryan Dickison and Melendez, increasing the lead to 4-1.

In the sixth Plunkett walked with one out, went to second on a failed pickoff attempt and third on a wild pitch. Hector Viera walked with two outs, ending the day for Gapp, and Dickison drew a free pass from reliever Nicholas Purpera.

Melendez followed with a two-run single up the middle and after a Croft walk, Lares singled through the left side, scoring two more for an 8-1 advantage.

Pinch-hitter Tyler Yorko started the eighth for CU with a single and moved to second on a balk. Mitch Langer doubled to right with one out, plating the final run of the contest.