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Cumberland University

LaRue
1
Cumberland (TN) CU 30-14-1
3
Winner Freed-Hardeman (TN) FHU 28-17
Cumberland (TN) CU
30-14-1
1
Final
3
Freed-Hardeman (TN) FHU
28-17
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Cumberland (TN) CU 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 5 0
Freed-Hardeman (TN) FHU 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 3 7 0

W: C. Bryant (2-1) L: Goldstein, Justin (7-3)

19
Winner Cumberland (TN) CU 31-14-1, 11-4 MSC
1
Freed-Hardeman (TN) FHU 28-18, 9-6 MSC
Winner
Cumberland (TN) CU
31-14-1, 11-4 MSC
19
Final
1
Freed-Hardeman (TN) FHU
28-18, 9-6 MSC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Cumberland (TN) CU 0 1 5 0 3 9 1 19 19 0
Freed-Hardeman (TN) FHU 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 6 2

W: Rost, Carter (6-1) L: H. McLemore (3-1)

Next Game:

University of the Cumberlands

4/24/2025 | 12:30 PM

FM 98.3/WCOR AM 1490

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Full Schedule
Apr. 24 (Thu) / 12:30 PM
 University of the Cumberlands
History

Game Recap: Baseball |

Walk-Off Heartbreak to Run Rule Revenge as CU wins Series at Freed-Hardeman

HENDERSON, Tenn.--Cumberland split Saturday's doubleheader at Freed-Hardeman, dropping a tough 3-1 walk-off loss in the opener before responding with a dominant 19-1 run-rule victory in the finale to claim the Mid-South Conference series. The Phoenix were held in check during Game One despite a strong start from Justin Goldstein, but bounced back in Game Two with a 19-hit offensive explosion led by Dylan LaRue's seven RBIs and a pair of home runs.

Freed-Hardeman walks off Cumberland in the Saturday opener as Dalton Bonner hits a two-run walk-off homer for the win, 3-1, on Saturday afternoon at Five Wells Field, spoiling a strong outing from Phoenix starter Justin Goldstein.

Cumberland (30-14-1) tied the game in the top of the sixth when Preston Welchel launched a solo home run to right field, his eighth of the season. Welchel's blast was one of five Phoenix hits on the day, as they struggled to string together offense against a trio of Lion pitchers.

Freed-Hardeman (28-17) got on the board first with a solo home run from Dawson Massengale in the second inning, and after Cumberland tied things up in the sixth, the Lions responded in the bottom of the seventh. Massengale led off with a single and came home on a two-run shot from Dalton Bonner, giving the home team the deciding 3-1 advantage.

Goldstein (7-3) was dealt a tough loss despite a quality performance, going six strong innings while allowing just three earned runs on seven hits and striking out nine without issuing a walk. Offensively, Daniel Dalton-Akiwumi doubled and walked, while Wilser Then, Dylan LaRue, and Trenton Duchsherer each added base hits.

Cumberland had its best chance to rally in the sixth after Welchel's homer and a single from Then, but a fielder's choice and flyout ended the threat. The Phoenix were retired in order in four of the seven innings and grounded into a double play in their final frame.

The Lions' bullpen proved clutch, with Colton Bryant (2-1) earning the win after tossing 1.2 scoreless innings in relief. Cooper Johnson got the start on the mound and went four strong innings. He allowed just two hits and struck out 10 Phoenix before handing the ball off to the bullpen. Zach Seward tossed 1.2 innings giving up two hits and the lone CU run.

Cumberland baseball erupted for 19 runs on 19 hits in the second gameSaturday afternoon, cruising to a 19-1 run-rule victory over Freed-Hardeman in the series finale to take two of three from the Lions.

The Phoenix scored in five of the seven innings and posted crooked numbers in the second, third, fifth, and sixth frames. Cumberland plated nine runs in the sixth alone to break the game wide open.

Dylan LaRue led the way going 4-for-5 and drove in a career-high seven runs, highlighted by two home runs—including a grand slam in the sixth inning.Designated hitter Toshiki Kuriya had a 3-for-4 performance, driving in three runs and doubling in the seventh. Gaines Haussin also notched three hits and added two RBIs, while Javy Beal collected three hits and two RBIs of his own, including a solo home run in the fifth.
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Cumberland got on the board in the second inning when Wilser Then launched his 12th home run of the season, a solo shot to left field that gave the Phoenix an early 1-0 lead.

The offense erupted in the third as Cumberland plated five runs to take full control of the game. Dalton Dalton-Akiwumi led things off with a walk, and Welchel followed with one of his own. Then reached on a fielding error to load the bases, setting the stage for a big inning. Kuriya was hit by a pitch to force in the first run, then Haussin walked to bring home another. LaRue singled to center to drive in a third run, and Beal followed with a walk to plate the fourth. Haussin later scored on a wild pitch to make it 6-0.

In the fifth, Beal opened the inning with a solo home run to right, extending the lead to 7-0. After Aiden McDonald singled and advanced on a throwing error, Dalton-Akiwumi knocked a single to center. Hunter Moser brought home McDonald with a sacrifice fly, and Then followed with a sac fly of his own, pushing the lead to 9-0.

The sixth inning saw an offensive explosion as the Phoenix poured on nine runs. Haussin started it off with a single and came around to score on a two-run homer from LaRue, his first of the game. After another round of base hits and walks, including RBIs from Then, Kuriya, and Haussi, LaRue stepped up again and crushed a grand slam to right center, giving him seven RBIs on the day and putting Cumberland ahead 18-1.

The Phoenix tacked on one final run in the seventh. Welchel singled with two outs and moved to third on a base hit from Chris Martin. Kuriya then doubled to right field, driving in Welchel and sealing the 19-1 run-rule victory.

Cumberland starter Carter Rost (6-0) was sharp on the mound, tossing five innings of one-run ball, allowing just three hits and striking out four. Kyle Nyblod closed the game with two scoreless innings.

The Phoenix took advantage of nine walks, one hit-by-pitch, and two Freed-Hardeman errors to pile on the runs. Cumberland finished the series with 27 runs across three games.

Cumberland returns to action on Tuesday at home against No. 3 Reinhardt at 2:00 p.m. before hosting the Cumberlands this weekend. 
 
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Players Mentioned

Gaines Haussin

#45 Gaines Haussin

IF
6' 1"
Junior
R-R
Toshiki Kuriya

#5 Toshiki Kuriya

IF
6' 1"
Senior
R-R
Chris Martin

#33 Chris Martin

C
6' 3"
Sophomore
R-R
Kyle Nyblod

#17 Kyle Nyblod

RHP
5' 11"
Graduate Student
R-R
Carter Rost

#20 Carter Rost

RHP
6' 4"
Senior
R-R
Preston Welchel

#22 Preston Welchel

OF
5' 11"
Senior
L-L
Justin Goldstein

#31 Justin Goldstein

RHP
6' 3"
Senior
R-R
Dylan LaRue

#23 Dylan LaRue

C
6' 0"
Junior
S-R
Aiden McDonald

#26 Aiden McDonald

IF
5' 10"
Junior
R-R
Hunter Moser

#28 Hunter Moser

UT
5' 9"
Junior
R-R

Players Mentioned

Gaines Haussin

#45 Gaines Haussin

6' 1"
Junior
R-R
IF
Toshiki Kuriya

#5 Toshiki Kuriya

6' 1"
Senior
R-R
IF
Chris Martin

#33 Chris Martin

6' 3"
Sophomore
R-R
C
Kyle Nyblod

#17 Kyle Nyblod

5' 11"
Graduate Student
R-R
RHP
Carter Rost

#20 Carter Rost

6' 4"
Senior
R-R
RHP
Preston Welchel

#22 Preston Welchel

5' 11"
Senior
L-L
OF
Justin Goldstein

#31 Justin Goldstein

6' 3"
Senior
R-R
RHP
Dylan LaRue

#23 Dylan LaRue

6' 0"
Junior
S-R
C
Aiden McDonald

#26 Aiden McDonald

5' 10"
Junior
R-R
IF
Hunter Moser

#28 Hunter Moser

5' 9"
Junior
R-R
UT