LEBANON, Tenn. – Kyle Allen drove in three runs with a double and a sacrifice fly and Cumberland loaded the bases in the ninth before bouncing into a double play, dropping a 9-8 decision to Bethel University in baseball action Wednesday at Ernest L. Stockton Field-Woody Hunt Stadium.

The Phoenix (26-21) were down 9-7 in the bottom of the ninth and loaded the bases with walks to Josh Croft, Hector Viera and Ryan Simmons, but pinch-hitter Mike Melendez grounded into a 4-6-3 twin-killing and Allen grounded out to end the contest.

Jarrett Plunkett’s two-run double and Allen’s sac fly gave CU a 3-2 edge in the second inning, but the Wildcats (22-14) scored four times in the sixth to take the lead for good, two on Caleb Brewer’s double.

Allen’s two-run double in the bottom of the inning cut the deficit to 6-5, but RBI singles from Bradey Gill, Brewer and pinch-hitter Jon Pyles in the seventh pushed the BU advantage to 9-5.

Josh Croft’s RBI single in the bottom of the seventh and a run-scoring base hit by Steven Hollis in the eighth made it 9-7, setting up the final inning drama.

John Michael Spoon (2-5), the second of five Bethel hurlers, picked up the victory, allowing two runs on one hit in four innings. He walked three and struck out two. Cody Lander pitched his way in-and-out of trouble in the ninth to get his fourth save, walking three and giving up one run.

Caleb Pitts (0-3) suffered the loss for Cumberland, allowing seven runs, four earned, on nine hits in a career-best six innings. He walked one and struck out three.

Bethel scored a run in each of the first two innings against CU starter Drew Chester, with Christian Padin and Kendall Adkisson leading off the game with singles. Gadier Charriez walked and Zachary Crocker’s groundout plated a run.

Brewer walked to start the second inning and took second on a wild pitch but was thrown out trying to steal third. Lee Whitaker and Austin Brenner both singled and Padin followed with another single, driving in pinch-runner Cody Owen to a 2-0 BU advantage.

Cumberland answered in the bottom of the inning, with Viera reaching on a bunt single and Simmons drawing a walk. Plunkett then doubled home two runs and he reached third on a wild pitch. Allen’s sac fly put the Phoenix ahead, 3-2.

It stayed that way until the sixth when Charriez led off with a double and with two outs, Colton Kail singled, putting runners on the corners. Brewer then doubled down the rightfield line, scoring two runs, and Whitaker reached on an error by first baseman Ryan Simmons, extending the inning.

Brewer scored on the error and Brenner followed with an RBI single for a 6-3 BU lead.

Croft and Simmons both walked in the bottom of the inning, setting up Allen’s two-run double to left, cutting the deficit to 6-5.

Charriez drew a free pass to start the seventh for the Wildcats and Crocker reached on an error, putting runners on the corners. Gill then singled to right, scoring a run, and after Kail was called out for stepping on the plate trying to bunt, Brewer and Pyles both singled, plating runs to extend the advantage to 9-5.

Hollis and Ryan Dickison both singled for Cumberland in the bottom of the inning, but Dickison was erased on a 4-6-3 doubleplay from Nick McGrew. Croft’s two-out single to right scored Hollis, making it 9-6.

In the eighth Allen walked with two outs and Gabe Lares reached on a bunt single before an RBI base hit to right by Hollis cut the Bethel lead to 9-7.

Cumberland hits the road this weekend for a three-game series at Georgetown College starting Friday at 4 p.m. Central Time.