Baseball 3/12/2026 12:53:00 PM

Cumberland Travels to Williamsburg for Conference Clash with No. 6 Cumberlands

LEBANON, Tenn.--Cumberland Baseball will hit the road this weekend for a Mid-South Conference showdown against No. 6 University of the Cumberlands to kick start conference play.

The Phoenix enter the weekend series with a 12-10 overall record after falling 13-6 to Bryan College earlier in the week. Cumberland boasts one of the top offenses in the NAIA with a team batting average standing at .362. Cumberland has bopped 40 home runs, fifth-most in the country and has the ninth-most triples this season.

Cumberland's lineup has been powered by senior Dylan Larue, who recently earned NAIA National Player of the Week honors. Larue is hitting .418 this season, the third-best mark in the Mid-South Conference. He is also tied with Caleb Royer for the team lead in home runs with eight, while adding nine doubles, two triples, and 26 RBIs. Gaines Haussin has also been a key contributor at the plate. Haussin leads the conference with a .438 batting average and has added five home runs, seven doubles, and 17 RBIs.

Senior first baseman Wilser Then ranks third in the conference with a .420 batting average while contributing four home runs and 21 RBIs. Royer rounds out the group of offensive leaders for the Phoenix. The power hitter has also launched eight home runs this season while driving in 17 runs.

On the mound, Logan Baskin has been dominant in his starts. Baskin holds a 3-1 record with an impressive 1.33 ERA while recording 34 strikeouts. Opponents are batting just .188 against him this season. Mateo Santos is also expected to see time on the mound. Santos enters with a 3-1 record and a 2.83 ERA while holding opponents to a .234 batting average. Carter Whitefield rounds out the projected pitching group for Cumberland. Whitefield carries a 2-0 record with a 2.75 ERA and has recorded 26 strikeouts while limiting opponents to a .250 batting average.

The Patriots enter the series with a 16-5 overall record as they begin Mid-South Conference play. Cumberlands split a midweek series against RV Milligan University on Tuesday, winning the first game 11-4 before falling 15-4 in the second contest. The Cumberlands has a team average of .343 and have hit 42 home runs, third-most in the NAIA. The Patriots also have 58 doubles this season.

Johnboy Rittenhouse leads the Patriots offensively with a .405 batting average, eight home runs, and 24 RBIs. Ronald Almanzar follows closely behind with a .403 batting average while leading the team with 10 home runs. Almanzar has also driven in 26 runs and recorded five doubles this season. Derick Andiarena is batting .389 with seven home runs and a team-high 11 doubles. Caden Petry has also been a key contributor, hitting .380 with seven home runs and a team-best 31 RBIs.

Wesley Culley is one of the projected starters for the Patriots. Culley holds a 3-0 record with 29 strikeouts and a 3.24 ERA while opponents are batting .247 against him. Stuart Tharle also enters with a perfect 3-0 record and carries a 3.38 ERA while limiting opponents to a .200 batting average. Nolan Wilson rounds out the pitching rotation with a 3-0 record, 22 strikeouts, and a 4.66 ERA while holding opposing hitters to a .214 average.

The two programs have met 57 times since 1984, with the Phoenix holding a 40-17 advantage in the all-time series. Last season, the teams met six times over a two-week span. Cumberland won four of those games. Toshiki Kuriya had a walk-off home run during the regular season to highlight a series win and then the two sides met three times in the conference tournament with the Phoenix winning the tournament title.

First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. ct start time and will play a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 11:00 a.m. ct. Randy Sallis and Chris Slaughter will have the call on 98.9 WANT FM radio.

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Players Mentioned

#5 Toshiki Kuriya: IF; 6' 1"; Senior; R-R

#21 Logan Baskin: LHP; 6' 1"; Graduate Student; L-L

#4 Gaines Haussin: IF; 6' 2"; Senior; R-R

#8 Wilser Then: IF/C; 6' 2"; Senior; R-R

#32 Caleb Royer: 1B/OF; 6' 4"; Senior; L-R

#55 Mateo Santos: RHP; 5' 7"; Junior; R-R

#27 Carter Whitefield: LHP; 6' 6"; Junior; L-L

Players Mentioned

#5 Toshiki Kuriya
: 6' 1"; Senior; R-R
: IF

#21 Logan Baskin
: 6' 1"; Graduate Student; L-L
: LHP

#4 Gaines Haussin
: 6' 2"; Senior; R-R
: IF

#8 Wilser Then
: 6' 2"; Senior; R-R
: IF/C

#32 Caleb Royer
: 6' 4"; Senior; L-R
: 1B/OF

#55 Mateo Santos
: 5' 7"; Junior; R-R
: RHP

#27 Carter Whitefield
: 6' 6"; Junior; L-L
: LHP