Lebanon, TN – The Lambuth University baseball team had won five straight baseball series until this weekend when perennial NAIA powerhouse Cumberland University sweep the Eagles in a three game series. The first inning of the first game Lambuth allowed Cumberland to score four unearned runs and in game two Lambuth blew two leads of two or more runs and game three saw a Cumberland offense put on a hitting display. Those three situations did not turn into a good weekend for the Eagles.
Cumberland took advantage of two Lambuth errors in the first inning of the first game to put four runs on the board. Starter Tony Perez would hold the Bulldogs to one run over the next six innings, but Lambuth could not catch up and lost the first game 5-3. Henry Sanchez and Mike Davis both went 2 for 4. Davis had a two run home run in the fifth that cut the Cumberland lead to 5-2. Brandon Craig and Matt Bird each added to the Lambuth offense, which out hit Cumberland 8-4, by going a combined 3 for 4.
Lambuth looked to bounce right back as they have done all year in the second game when they put up two runs in the top of the first. Lambuth starter Brent Ebinger got two quick outs in the bottom half but could not finish the inning and Cumberland knotted the score at 2 at the end of the first. The Bulldogs would add a run in the second and the score stayed 3-2 Cumberland until the fifth. In the top of the fifth Lambuth pounded out four hits two of which were doubles and plated four runs to take a three run lead 6-3. Ebinger got two quick outs again, but the bottom of the Cumberland order battled to even the score at six after five innings. The game would go extra innings after both teams came up with some spectacular defensive plays to keep the game tied. In the bottom of the eighth inning with runners on first and second Cumberland’s three hole hitter took an outside fastball and looped it over the outstretched arms of Lambuth first baseman Mike Davis for a Cumberland 7-6 victory. Lambuth hit the ball very well in the second game. Ben White, Henry Sanchez and James Poole all had three hits. Ryan Hanson, Ryan Concannon and Chris Siljendahl each added two. Matt Fike took the loss for the Eagles after a brilliant relief performance that saw Cumberland only get one hit off Fike in two and two-thirds of an inning.
After the two close losses on Saturday, nothing could go right for the Eagles on Sunday. Cumberland took advantage of every bad pitch and every Lambuth bobble in the field as they pounded out 22 hits and scored 22 runs. Lambuth had two bright spots as Mike Davis went 2 for 4 with his second 2 run home run of the weekend. Matt Bird went 2 for 2 and 4 for 5 on the weekend. Chris Siljendahl also added a 2 run home run on the day.
Lambuth will look to bounce back when they travel to Decatur, Alabama to take on Shorter College. The doubleheader will start at 12:00 and it will be played at Calhoun CC. The Eagles will look to make up some lost ground in the TranSouth conference this weekend when they travel to Mayfield, KY to take on Mid-Continent. Hope to see you all at the ballpark!!
| Lambuth vs | (7) | 1 |
| Cumberland Univ. | 13 | |
| 1st Round Region XI Tournament | ||
| Lambuth vs | 7 |
| Martin Methodist | 18 |
| 2nd Round Region XI Tournament | |
