Big seventh inning sends Fomasi, CU past Lindsey Wilson

GEORGETOWN, Ky. — Anthony Fomasi kept Lindsey Wilson within striking distance until Cumberland could overtake the Blue Raiders with six runs in the seventh inning of a 7-2 Wednesday win in the NAIA Region XI tournament at Robert Wilson Field.
Lindsey Wilson led 2-1 until the Cumberland seventh. Kyle West's bases-loaded single put Cumberland in front 3-2. Courtney Propst pulled an RBI single down the left-field line, Luis Martinez singled to center for two more runs and Jeremy Wilson, who opened the inning with a walk, singled to right field to drive in the final score.
Fomasi fired eight innings, allowing both runs [one earned] on six hits and four walks while striking out 10 to climb to 6-1. Adam Tomlinson retired the side in order in the ninth as Cumberland, which climbed six slots to No. 11 in the latest NAIA poll released Wednesday, advanced to today's 11 a.m. CDT winner's bracket final with a 44-17-1 record.
The Bulldogs will face Campbellsville, which scored three times in the bottom of the ninth inning [after Trevecca got two in the top of the inning] to knock off the No. 12 Trojans 5-3. The Tigers broke into the NAIA ratings this week at No. 25. Trevecca and Crichton, which eliminated host Georgetown 11-7 earlier Wednesday, will play for their season at 2:30 p.m. today with the winner catching the Campbellsville-Cumberland loser at 6 p.m. tonight.
Lindsey Wilson, with Mt. Juliet High graduates Mike Mantooth and Ricky Steakin on the coaching staff, ended a 30-27 season. Steakin was a pitcher on Cumberland's 2004 national championship team.
The teams swapped first-inning scores. Lindsey Wilson scored in the first two innings on grounders, including a second-inning fielder's choice by freshman Zach Prichard of Mt. Juliet for a 2-1 Raider lead.
Cumberland tied the score in the bottom of the first when Propst doubled down the left-field line and came home on a wild pitch.
Also on the Lindsey Wilson roster is sophomore left-hand pitcher Jeremy Ezell of Mt. Juliet who played at Friendship Christian. He did not play Wednesday.