MCKENZIE, Tenn.- -  Cumberland battled through a dramatic doubleheader split on the road at Bethel, falling in an extra-inning thriller in game one before responding with a strong, controlled performance in game two to secure the series victory.

The Phoenix wasted little time getting on the board. In the top of the first, Karley Daughrity reached after being hit by a pitch and moved into scoring position on a Hailey Donato sacrifice. Elly Castle then came through with a double to bring home the game's first run and give Cumberland a 1-0 lead.

Cumberland added to its advantage in the second when Sara Brogdon launched her first home run of the season, pushing the lead to 2-0.

Bethel threatened in the bottom of the inning, loading the bases with a double from Auvenshine, a single by Hernandez, and a hit-by-pitch from Benson. Madison Croxford worked through the jam and limited the damage to just one run, allowing the Phoenix to stay in front.

The Wildcats grabbed their first lead of the day in the third as Sharp connected on a two-run homer, her sixth of the season, to put Bethel ahead 3-2.

Cumberland responded in a big way in the top of the fourth. Karsyn France and Brogdon both reached on Bethel errors, and France later scored on a Kennady Scott sacrifice bunt to tie the game. Deshae Oakley followed with an RBI to bring home Brogdon and put the Phoenix back in front. Cumberland kept the pressure on from there, loading the bases and getting additional run-scoring contributions from Elly Castle, Natalie Rector, and France, stretching the lead to 7-3. Croxford followed with a scoreless bottom half to keep the momentum with the Phoenix.

The Phoenix had another opportunity in the fifth after Daughrity singled and Donato doubled, but both runners were left in scoring position. Bethel answered in the bottom half when Sharp struck again, blasting her second home run of the game to trim the deficit to 7-4.

After Cumberland was held scoreless in the sixth, the Wildcats continued to chip away. Caruthers drew a walk before Hernandez launched a two-run homer, her third of the year, cutting the Phoenix lead to just 7-6 heading into the seventh.

Bethel completed the comeback in the bottom of the seventh. Sherrill walked to put the potential winning run aboard, and Jordan reached on an error to give the Wildcats two runners on with no outs. Sharp moved both into scoring position, and Auvenshine followed with a sacrifice fly to center field that tied the game at 7-7. Croxford was able to keep the winning run stranded and force extra innings.

In the bottom of the eighth, Nichols delivered the final blow with a two-run walk-off home run, lifting Bethel to a 9-7 win and evening the series at one game apiece heading into the rubber match.

Cumberland wasted no time taking control in game two, erupting for four runs in the second inning. Abby Chappell sparked the rally with a single, followed by Karsyn France being hit by a pitch. Kennedy Scott then reached on an error that allowed Chappell to score the game's first run. Deshae Oakley added an RBI single to plate France, and Karley Daughrity capped the inning with a two-run double, bringing home both Oakley and Scott to give the Phoenix a 4-0 advantage after two innings.

The offense stayed active in the third as Elly Castle led off with a single and later scored on a Natalie Rector double, extending the lead. In the circle, Madison Lancaster was dominant early, keeping Bethel scoreless through the first three innings while maintaining control of the game.

Cumberland was held scoreless in the fourth, but Bethel threatened in the bottom half of the inning. After Sharp reached on an error and Auvenshine followed with a single, Lancaster worked out of the jam to preserve the shutout.

The Wildcats broke through in the sixth inning, putting runners on early with singles from Sherrill and Nichols. Sharp delivered an RBI single to score Nichols, and another run came across on an error, trimming the Phoenix lead to 5-2.

Cumberland answered in the top of the seventh, as Hailey Donato launched her third home run of the season, a two-run shot that scored Oakley and extended the lead to five. Lancaster then shut the door in the bottom half, securing the win and the series victory for the Phoenix.

Cumberland will return to action on Tuesday, traveling to face RV Georgia Gwinnett College in a doubleheader in Lawrenceville, Georgia. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 PM CT, with game two set to follow at 3:00 PM CT.