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Cumberland University

Cal Royer
10
Winner Cumberland (TN) CU 26-25, 0 MSC
8
Bethel (TN) BETHEL 14-29, 0 MSC
Winner
Cumberland (TN) CU
26-25, 0 MSC
10
Final
8
Bethel (TN) BETHEL
14-29, 0 MSC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 R H E
Cumberland (TN) CU 0 0 0 0 0 2 5 0 1 2 10 12 2
Bethel (TN) BETHEL 0 0 2 0 2 1 0 0 3 0 8 14 0

W: Nyblod, Kyle (2-2) L: Christian Wilkes (0-3)

Next Game:

vs. University of the Cumberlands (Ky.)

5/2/2026 | 12:00 PM

WANT FM 98.9/FM 98.3/WCOR AM 1490

Next Game

Full Schedule
May. 02 (Sat) / 12:00 PM
vs. University of the Cumberlands (Ky.)
History

Game Recap: Baseball |

Phoenix Outlast Bethel in Extras to Punch Ticket to Title Game

BOWLING GREEN, Ky.--Cumberland punched its ticket to the Mid-South Conference Baseball Tournament Championship game with a dramatic win outlasting Bethel Wildcats 10-8 in 10 innings at Bowling Green Ballpark.

The Phoenix (26-25) rallied to come from behind before seeing a late lead slip away in the ninth. The Phoenix responded in extras, using a clutch two-run single from Wilser Then to secure the win and head to the conference championship game unbeaten. 

Cumberland totaled 10 runs on 12 hits, powered by a huge day from Caleb Royer. The designated hitter went 4-for-5 with two home runs and five RBI, including a three-run blast in the seventh that gave the Phoenix the lead.

Wilser Then finished with two RBI, including the game-winning knock in the 10th, while Aidan McDonald added two hits and an RBI. Dylan LaRue and Cohl Proctor each drove in a run, and Yuito Suzuki scored twice and reached base three times to help spark the offense.

On the mound, Kyle Nyblod earned the win, tossing 2.0 innings of scoreless relief with three strikeouts to close out the contest.

Bethel (14-29) put together 14 hits and erased an 8-5 deficit with a three-run ninth inning to tie the game.

Cade Pilkinton led the Wildcats with three hits and three RBI, including a two-run double in the ninth that ignited the comeback. Juan Diego Ramos and Adriel Vega each recorded multiple hits, while CJ Lattimore added two hits and scored twice.

After five scoreless innings, Bethel Wildcats broke through in the third inning, stringing together three hits, including an RBI single from Adriel Vega and an RBI double from Juan Diego Ramos to take a 2-0 lead. The Wildcats extended the advantage in the fifth, capitalizing on a pair of Cumberland miscues and a run-scoring single from Cade Pilkinton to push the lead to 4-0.

Cumberland answered in the sixth inning when LaRue doubled to start the frame, setting up Royer, who launched a two-run home run to right field to cut the deficit to 4-2. Bethel added a run in the bottom half to make it 5-2, but that would be the final punch before Cumberland's big response.

The Phoenix erupted in the seventh inning, beginning with Yuito Suzuki and Camden Williamson reaching base. LaRue drove in a run with a groundout before Aidan McDonald followed with an RBI single to pull Cumberland within one. After an intentional walk to Wilser Then, Royer delivered the biggest swing of the night, blasting a three-run home run to right-center to cap a five-run inning and give Cumberland a 7-5 lead.

Cumberland added insurance in the ninth when Then worked a walk and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly from Cohl Proctor, stretching the lead to 8-5.

Bethel refused to go away in the bottom of the ninth, loading the bases with no outs before Pilkinton ripped a two-run double down the left field line to cut the lead to one. A sacrifice fly from Garrett Taylor tied the game at 8-8, putting the winning run at third with two outs. That's when Suzuki delivered a game-saving moment ranging deep into the hole at shortstop, laying out for a full-extension diving stop, and firing across the diamond to end the inning and preserve the tie.

In the 10th, Suzuki again sparked the offense with a leadoff walk before Williamson moved him into scoring position. After a walk and a single loaded the bases, Then came through with a clutch two-run single to right, scoring Suzuki and Wyatt Hurt to give Cumberland a 10-8 lead.

Kyle Nyblod slammed the door in the bottom half, striking out the side to secure the win and send Cumberland to the championship game.

Cumberland advances to the Mid-South Conference Championship game and will play at noon on Saturday against the winner of the elimination bracket.

 
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Players Mentioned

Wyatt Hurt

#29 Wyatt Hurt

OF
6' 0"
Junior
R-R
Dylan LaRue

#23 Dylan LaRue

C/OF
6' 0"
Senior
S-R
Aidan McDonald

#26 Aidan McDonald

OF
5' 9"
Senior
R-R
Kyle Nyblod

#17 Kyle Nyblod

RHP
6' 0"
Graduate Student
R-R
Cohl Proctor

#13 Cohl Proctor

IF
6' 1"
Senior
R-R
Wilser Then

#8 Wilser Then

IF/C
6' 2"
Senior
R-R
Caleb Royer

#32 Caleb Royer

1B/OF
6' 4"
Senior
L-R
Yuito Suzuki

#16 Yuito Suzuki

IF
5' 11"
Junior
R-R
Camden Williamson

#10 Camden Williamson

OF
5' 8"
Junior
R-R

Players Mentioned

Wyatt Hurt

#29 Wyatt Hurt

6' 0"
Junior
R-R
OF
Dylan LaRue

#23 Dylan LaRue

6' 0"
Senior
S-R
C/OF
Aidan McDonald

#26 Aidan McDonald

5' 9"
Senior
R-R
OF
Kyle Nyblod

#17 Kyle Nyblod

6' 0"
Graduate Student
R-R
RHP
Cohl Proctor

#13 Cohl Proctor

6' 1"
Senior
R-R
IF
Wilser Then

#8 Wilser Then

6' 2"
Senior
R-R
IF/C
Caleb Royer

#32 Caleb Royer

6' 4"
Senior
L-R
1B/OF
Yuito Suzuki

#16 Yuito Suzuki

5' 11"
Junior
R-R
IF
Camden Williamson

#10 Camden Williamson

5' 8"
Junior
R-R
OF