Bulldogs win first game before being eliminated in tournament play

GULF SHORES, Ala. – Cumberland opened up tournament play at the Gulf Shores Invitational with a 2-1 win against No. 19 Mobile but was eliminated in the second game by No. 18 Central Methodist 1-0 at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex on Sunday.

The Bulldogs (14-7, 2-2) ended the weekend 3-3, earning two wins in pool play and one during the tournament.

Ace Courtney Maynard (8-1) threw the win for the Bulldogs, allowing four hits, one run, three walks and struck out five batters.

Megan Lavery started off the game against the Rams with a single to shortstop and advanced to third on consecutive groundouts by Natalie Garcia and Sydney Broderick. Another groundout, this time by Shawnee Kirk, ended Lavery’s scoring opportunity.

Devon Jamerson placed herself in scoring position in the second inning by stealing second base after reaching first on a throwing error. However, her opportunity to score was ended by Sarah Murray’s ball hitting into a double play.

The first score of the game occurred for the Rams in the fourth inning when Korie Fontenot singled down the left-field line and advanced from a groundout and sacrifice fly. A double by Emily Vickrey to left field brought Fontenot in for a 1-0 Ram lead.

The Bulldogs were quick to respond with Jessica Roper sailing a ball to right-center field. Courtney White stepped in to pinch run and immediately made it to second on a wild pitch and advanced to third on a groundout by Jamerson. Murray’s sacrifice fly to left field allowed White to cross home plate to tie the game 1-1.

Garcia opened the sixth inning with a single to right field and advanced to third on back-to-back groundouts and scored on a wild pitch to put CU up 2-1. Roper and Jamerson followed with singles but were left on base to end the inning.

The Rams put themselves in scoring position in the bottom of the inning by Da Rosa reaching base on a Bulldog fielding error, advancing to second on a groundout and making it to third on a passed ball. Cumberland clamped down on defense with the tying run on third, leaving the score 2-1.

Kamaron Strickland (5-3) suffered the loss for Mobile(10-5), with seven hits, two runs and one walk.

The game against Central Methodist (3-4) was scoreless and hitless through the first two innings before the CMU’s Bri Kirkland singled to centerfield, but that was short-lived as the next two batters obtained outs.

In the top of the fourth for the Eagles, a fielding error allowed Bri Ford on base, and she advanced from a single to left center by Nicole Beck. A Jacqulin Cappuccilli hit to shortstop put Beck on third and brought Ford home for the only score of the game.

The Bulldogs had an opportunity to tie it up with White on third base in the bottom of the fifth with two outs on the board but Jamerson struck out swinging.

Cumberland had its last opportunity in the bottom of the seventh, down 1-0 with one out, with Kirk on first from a hit to right center and Roper at the plate. On a full count, Roper got the walk to first, advancing Kirk to second. Emily Nicholson was in to pinch hit for Kacy Hobbs, but hit a line drive to the third baseman that caught it and flipped the ball to the second baseman to tag Kirk and end the game.

Caroline Curran (1-2) picked up the loss for CU, amassing three hits, one run and three strikeouts.

Joclyn Glaze (1-1) collected her first win on the season with two hits, two walks and three strikeouts.

Cumberland will return home on Wednesday for a doubleheader against Campbellsville beginning at 1 p.m.