LEBANON, Tenn. – Ryan Dickison homered and drove in three runs and Gabe Lares added two RBIs, backing up Mitch Langer, who gave up one run on four hits in Cumberland’s 15-1 victory over Talladega College in baseball action Tuesday afternoon at Ernest L. Stockton Field-Woody Hunt Stadium.

Talladega won the opening contest of the doubleheader, 7-5, in eight innings, on a two-run double by Victor Negron, who also tossed four shutout innings of relief to pick up the victory. Emmanuel Lopez hit a three-run homer for the Tornadoes (16-22), who led 5-0 before Cumberland scored five runs in the bottom of the fourth to tie the contest.

Dickison’s RBI single got Cumberland on the board and Nick McGrew and Mike Melendez followed with two-run singles for the Phoenix to knot the score at five.

Negron (2-0) allowed three hits, did not walk a batter and struck out two in his relief effort.

Parker Cash worked 5.1 innings of relief for Cumberland, giving up four runs on eight hits with four walks and five strikeouts. Joshua Mollett (0-4) suffered the loss, allowing two runs on two hits with two strikeouts in two innings.

McGrew went 3-for-4 and Lares and Dickison each posted two hits in the loss for CU.

Cumberland scored eight runs in the fourth inning en route to the game two victory, with Lares driving in a pair with a single to left and Dickison following two batters later with a two-run homer, his sixth of the season. The Phoenix took advantage of four walks and four hit batters in the game.

Langer (4-1) tossed seven innings for the victory, allowing one run on four hits. Felix Castillo suffered the loss for the Tornadoes, giving up six runs on eight hits in three innings.

Jesus Zapata walked to start the opener for Talladega and went to second on a wild pitch. He took third on a groundout and after a hit batter, scored on a two-out single to center by Anthony Ruiz.

The Tornadoes added four more runs in the fourth, with Anthony Rodriguez and Zapata both drawing walks. Luis Alvarado then singled through the left side, plating a run, before Lopez’s three-run homer to left extended Talladega’s lead to 5-0.

Cumberland answered in the bottom of the inning, starting with one-out singles by Grant House and Lares. Josh Croft walked, loading the bases, and Dickison’s single to center plated a run.

McGrew then down the leftfield line, scoring two runs, and he took second on the throw home. Melandez also singled, this one to left, pushing across two more runs and tying the game at five.

Cumberland had just four baserunners in four innings versus Negron.

In the eighth Alvarado led off with a single to right and Lopez was hit with one out. Negron’s two-out double down the leftfield line plated both runners for a 7-5 Talladega lead.

The Tornadoes scored first in the second game as well, with Alvarado and Ruiz both singling in the first before a two-out RBI single through the left side gave the visitors a 1-0 edge.

The Phoenix came back with two runs in the bottom of the inning, starting with a leadoff double to left by Lares. Dickison’s one-out single to left plated a run and McGrew reached on a bunt single. A two-out single to center by Steven Hollis gave CU the lead for good.

The game remained 2-1 until the fourth when Cumberland exploded for eight runs on six hits, sending 13 batters to the plate.

Hollis and Tyler Yorko both singled to leadoff the inning and Ryan Simmons was hit, loading the bases. House was also hit, forcing in a run, before a two-run single through the left side by Lares.

Croft bounced into a fielder’s choice, scoring a run, and pinch-runner Bo Saunders came across when a throw to first for a potential doubleplay got away. Dickison followed with a two-run homer and an 8-1 advantage.

McGrew was hit and Melendez singled before a balk forced in another run. Hollis walked and Yorko singled, driving home the final run of the inning.

Cumberland added five more runs in the fifth, including RBI singles by Kyle Howard and Hollis and a run-scoring groundout from Simmons.

The Phoenix take on Bethel University at 3 p.m. on Wednesday before heading to Georgetown College for a three-game series this weekend.