LEBANON, Tenn. – Jarrett Plunkett posted two hits and two RBIs, Josh Croft drove in a pair of runs and Cumberland scored eight runs in the first five innings before hanging on for a 10-6 victory over Bethel University in baseball action Tuesday in McKenzie, Tenn.

The contest included 52 at-bats with runners on base, 26 runners left on base, eight errors (seven by the Wildcats), 12 walks and four hit batters along with 22 hits between the two teams. Bethel trailed 10-5 heading into the ninth before loading the bases with straight singles to leadoff the ninth, but Sean Cruz worked out of the jam allowing just one run with a pair of strikeouts and a groundout.

Nick McGrew collected two hits and Hector Viera scored three times in the win for Cumberland (24-16), who has won seven straight overall.

Cumberland started Mitch Langer (3-1) allowed four runs on four hits in five innings for the win, walking four and striking out seven. Cruz gave up two runs on eight hits in four innings of relief, striking out seven for his third save of the year.

Kendall Adkisson went 4-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBIs for the Wildcats (21-11). Gadier Charriez and Zachary Crocker each recorded two hits and Chase Howell drove in two runs as well for BU.

The Phoenix scored twice in the first inning when Viera walked with one out and stole second. Dickison drew a free pass and the runners moved up on a passed ball before an RBI single by Mike Melendez. Croft’s groundout plated another run for a 2-0 edge.

Grant House was hit to start the CU second and Plunkett followed with a single down the leftfield line. With two outs Dickison singled through the left side, scoring pinch-runner Bo Saunders for a 3-0 advantage.

Cumberland increased the lead to 4-0 in the fourth when Viera reached on an error and stole second. Melendez walked with one out and Croft followed with an RBI single to right.

The Wilcats got on the board in the bottom of the inning after Adkisson walked and Charriez was hit. Langer’s failed pickoff throw to second allowed the runners to take second and third and Chase Howell’s two-run single up the middle cut the Phoenix lead to 4-2.

In the fifth House walked and Plunkett was hit to start the frame. McGrew singled up the middle, scoring Saunders, and Plunkett came around to score on the play on an error by third baseman Adkisson. McGrew ended up at third and scored on Viera’s infield single and he went to second on a failed pickoff throw. Leftfielder Colton Kail also committed an error on a ball hit by Melendez, allowing Viera to come across and increasing the advantage to 9-2.

The Wildcats came back with two runs in their half of the inning, with Caleb Brewer drawing a one-out walk. Christian Padin singled up the middle and took second when the throw went to third. Adkisson drove in both runners with another single up the middle, making it a 9-4 contest.

Cruz allowed four straight singles in the seventh to Adkisson, Charriez, Crocker and Kail, the final one from Kail cutting the CU lead to 9-5.

Cumberland added an insurance run in the eighth when Tyler Yorko reached on an error and House’s sacrifice bunt pushed the runner to second. Plunkett’s double plated Yorko for a 10-5 advantage.

Adkisson, Charriez and Crocker all singled to left to start the bottom of the ninth and one run scored on a wild pitch, but Cruz struck out Kail and Howell. After a bunt single by Cody Owen loaded the bases again, Lee Whitaker grounded back to the pitch to end the contest.

Cumberland hosts top-ranked Georgia Gwinnett on Wednesday at Noon before hitting the road for a Mid-South Conference series this weekend at Lindsey Wilson beginning Friday.