Bulldogs sweep Freed for first TSC victories

HENDERSON — After dropping its TranSouth Conference opener Friday night to Freed-Hardeman, Cumberland came off the canvas to sweep a Saturday double header from the host Lions 6-2 and 13-5 at Carnes Field.
Luis Martinez and Clint Alexander swung the big sticks with first-game home runs for Cumberland. Martinez drove in three runs and Alexander two to send right-hander Robert Clayton to victory.
Clayton pitched the full seven innings, allowing six hits and two walks while striking out five. One of the walks was issued to senior leadoff hitter Justin Forrst of Lebanon, who went 0-for-3.
Tyler Franklin pitched the first 4 1/3 innings to take the loss. Former Blue Devil Bart Cherry relieved Franklin for 1 2/3 innings, giving up a run on no hits and two walks with a pair of strikeouts.
In the nightcap, Cumberland poured eight runs across the plate in the top of the seventh inning to break a 5-5 tie and lift Friendship Christian-alum Adam Tomlinson to his first win of the season. The senior side-armer scattered three hits and a walk while fanning five in relief of starter Zach Whitmer.
Cherry pitched 1 1/3 innings and took the loss, allowing three runs on four hits with a strikeout, to fall to 1-1.
Alexander and Courtney Propst both homered and drove in four runs for Cumberland. Austin Morgan knocked in two runs on three hits as the Bulldogs banged out 17 hits as they improved to 10-6-1 for the season and 2-1 in the TranSouth.
Forrest homered and doubled for the Lions, who fell to 12-5, 1-2.
Cumberland will return to Woody Hunt Stadium for a 2 p.m. Tuesday game with Bellevue in a meeting of NAIA powers.