BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- Cumberland upset top-seeded Pikeville twice in two days to capture its first Mid-South Conference Tournament Championship in program history, earning the league's automatic bid to the 2026 NAIA National Championship.

The Phoenix advanced to the championship match on Friday after winning four straight matches, setting up two chances to claim the tournament title. Their opponent was determined between No. 1 Pikeville and No. 6 Shawnee State, with Pikeville sweeping Shawnee State in a best-of-seven baker series to force a rematch with Cumberland and a repeat of last season's finals.

In the 2025 championship match, Pikeville edged the Phoenix in a tightly contested seven-game series, 4-3, denying Cumberland its first tournament crown.

The Mid-South Conference implemented the Mega Match format this year to mirror the NAIA National Championships. The first set consists of the total number of pins from five bowlers in a traditional game. Set two is total pinfall in five Baker team games, and the third set, if necessary, is a best-of-seven Baker match.

This go around, Cumberland flipped the script. The Phoenix opened the match with a narrow 982-975 victory, fueled by multiple clutch performances in the 10th frame to seize early momentum.

In the second set, Pikeville jumped out to a 205-178 lead after the first Baker game, but the Phoenix outscored the Bears in the next four games to take the set 1,043-981 in total to claim the championship.

Cumberland did not drop a set in its championship run and also snapped a three-year tournament title run for Pikeville.

The title marks Cumberland's first Mid-South Conference Tournament Championship and second conference championship overall, following its regular-season title in 2024-25.

With the victory, the Phoenix also secured their first-ever trip to the NAIA National Championships. The tournament will be held March 19-21 at Royal Scot Lanes in Lansing, Michigan.

Cumberland returns to action following a week off, traveling to Indianapolis next weekend to compete in the Hoosier Classic.