DAYTON, Tenn.--Cumberland collected 12 hits and held an early lead, but a seven-run fifth inning from Bryan proved to be the difference as the Lions defeated the Phoenix 13-6 Tuesday afternoon at Senter Field.

Wilser Then led the Phoenix offensively, finishing 3-for-5 with a double, a home run, and five RBI. Aiden McDonald also had a strong day at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored, while Gaines Haussin collected two hits and an RBI.

Kyle Niebow (0-1) took the loss for Cumberland after allowing three runs over three innings. Colson Smith and John Sullivan combined to surrender eight runs in relief before Jaron Keyser closed the final three innings.

Bryan was powered by four home runs on the afternoon. Cyrus Campos and Will Curcio each drove in multiple runs, while Jayron Morris went 3-for-4 with two RBI and Logan Stradley scored three times in the win.

Cumberland (12-10) struck first in the opening inning after Haussin singled and later came around to score when Wilser Then reached on a Bryan error, giving the Phoenix a 1-0 lead. Cumberland added another run in the third as McDonald doubled and Then followed with an RBI single to push the advantage to 2-0.

Bryan (12-11) answered immediately in the bottom of the third. Campos tied the game with a two-run home run before Curcio drove in another run with a groundout to give the Lions a 3-2 lead.  Stradley extended Bryan's advantage with a solo homer in the fourth.

The Lions broke the game open in the fifth inning with a seven-run outburst. Curcio highlighted the inning with a two-run homer, while Cade Cook and Jack Reynolds added RBI hits. A wild pitch and a sacrifice fly from Jayron Morris capped the inning as Bryan surged ahead 11-2.

Cumberland began to chip away late. Gaines Haussin drove in a run with a single in the sixth, and the Phoenix mounted their biggest rally in the seventh. After Aiden McDonald singled and Caleb Royer walked, Wilser Then launched a three-run homer to left, cutting the deficit to 11-6.
Bryan responded with a run in the seventh on an RBI single by Morris and added another in the eighth when Denajh Williams connected for a solo home run to close the scoring.

The Phoenix will begin conference play this weekend as CU is set to travel to take on the University of the Cumberlands.