Whitmer pitches CU to Region XI finals

GEORGETOWN, Ky. — Zach Whitmer turned in the latest in a string of strong postseason pitching performances for Cumberland on Thursday, delivering the Bulldogs to the NAIA Region XI finals with a 3-2 win over Campbellsville at Robert Wilson Field.
The senior left-hander scattered seven hits and no walks while striking out seven to hike his record to 7-4 and the No. 11 Bulldogs' to 45-17-1.
The same teams will hook up for the championship at 11 a.m. today. A Bulldog loss would force an "if necessary" game at 2:30 p.m. The region champ will play in the best-of-three super regional next week for the right to go to the NAIA World Series.
No. 12 Trevecca ousted Crichton 6-4 Thursday afternoon before No. 25 Campbellsville [42-17] sent the Trojans packing 8-3 in the loser's bracket final. The Tigers need to win twice today for the title.
The Bulldogs scored all their runs in the bottom of the third inning. Kyle West and Courtney Propst singled and advanced on a wild pitch. West gave Cumberland a 1-0 lead on another wild pitch before Eric Mull walked. Clint Alexander's infield single scored Propst. Mull advanced to third oon an error and scored on Luis Martinez's sacrifice fly to right.
Campbellsville finally got to Whitmer in the eighth on a two-run homer by Chris Curley.
Senior Adam Tomlinson came on to start the ninth and the former Friendship Christian ace tamed the Tigers on a strikeout and two infield popouts for his sixth save.

All-Region team
Cumberland third baseman Mull and pitcher Robert Clayton were named to the All-Region team.
Also on the team are Freed-Hardeman senior Justin Forrest. The former Lebanon High Blue Devil started 52 games in right field with a .966 fielding percentage. As the Lions' leadoff hitter, he batted .359 with a .500 on-base percentage while leading the team with 14 doubles, nine home runs and 36 stolen bases.

All-Region softball
Cumberland's Jamie Smith was named to the All-Region second team while Trevecca sophomore Chelsea Bailey, a former Wilson Central standout, was picked to the first team for the second straight season.