ATHENS, Tenn.--Cumberland battled toe-to-toe with No. 5 Tennessee Wesleyan in Saturday's doubleheader but came up just short in both contests, falling 3-2 in a walk-off heartbreaker in game one and 6-2 in game two at Athens Insurance Stadium. The Phoenix (29-12-1) held leads in game one, but saw it slip away and were held quite in game two by the Bulldogs (31-10).

A walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth handed Cumberland a tough 3-2 loss to No. 5 Tennessee Wesleyan in game one of Saturday's doubleheader at Athens Insurance Stadium.

The Phoenix grabbed the lead twice in game one, only to see the Bulldogs rally each time and ultimately seal the win in their final at-bat.

Toshiki Kuriya put Cumberland in front in the fourth with a ground ball that turned into a double play but brought Preston Welchel home from third. Tennessee Wesleyan answered quickly, tying the game at 1-1 on a solo homer by Daniel Stewart in the bottom half of the frame.

Kuriya delivered again in the seventh with his seventh home run of the season, a solo shot to left that gave CU a 2-1 lead. However, the Bulldogs responded with a two-out RBI double down the right field line from Kruise Newman, tying the game once again.

In the ninth, the Phoenix threatened as Preston Welchel walked, Gaines Haussin reached on an infield single, and Dylan LaRue was hit by a pitch, but the Bulldogs got out of the jam unscathed. Tennessee Wesleyan completed the comeback when Stewart led off the frame with a double. Kolton Reynolds singled to left, scoring pinch-runner Jonathan Bosque for the walk-off win.

CU starter Quinlan Wiley allowed just one run over four innings, striking out four. Grayson Cole tossed 2.2 innings in relief, surrendering an unearned run, before Jake Green (4-1) was charged with the loss after giving up the game-winning hit.

Offensively, Cumberland was limited to five hits, with Kuriya's home run being the highlight. Drew Dalton-Akiwumi, Wilser Then, Gaines Haussin, and Rafael Garcia each added one hit.

A six-run fourth inning proved to be the difference in game two as Cumberland dropped both games of Saturday's doubleheader to No. 5 Tennessee Wesleyan, 6-2.

The Bulldogs broke open a scoreless game in the fourth, using a three-run homer by Corbin Shaw and a two-RBI double from Geremy Garcia to seize control. Tennessee Wesleyan added another run in the frame on a throwing error to go up 6-0.

Wilser Then provided the lone offensive spark for the Phoenix, belting a two-run homer in the seventh to put Cumberland on the board. 

Cumberland managed just three hits in the contest as Bulldog starter Blake Peyton was in full control. Peyton tossed 6.2 innings giving up just two runs and striking out nine Phoenix. Daniel Davila posted the final out. 

CU starter Justin Goldstein tossed three solid innings, allowing only two hits and no runs while striking out four. Tanner Batts (0-1) took the loss after facing just two batters in the fourth, both of whom came around to score. Ryan Calvert was tagged for four runs, three earned, in an inning of relief, while Lincoln Juarez and JP Kenyon each added a scoreless frame.

Cumberland and No. 5 Tennessee Wesleyan will meet for the final game of the series tomorrow at noon central time.