May 17, 2007

BARBOURVILLE, Ky. - Union College struck early, Cumberland (Tenn.) University was able to hold fast and pulled out the 6-4 decision in the opening game of the NAIA South Central Super Regional at Jerry W. Carey Stadium in Barbourville, Ky.

With the win, fifth-seeded Cumberland (47-18-1 overall) owns a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series. No. 10 Union dropped to 46-16 overall and will try to force a third game as the two teams will square off again Friday at 2:30 p.m.

Amazingly, both starting pitchers made it the entire way as both were hit hard in the early going. Of the 12 hits Cumberland right-hander gave up, 11 came during the first four innings and Union's last hit was in the sixth. Union's Marty Popham (Louisville, Ky.) surrendered 10 base knocks with seven being scattered during the first five frames.

And while Cumberland might've been outhit by Union, it sure made the most of them as Cumberland's first six hits went for extra bases.

Union got things off to a good start, scoring twice in the top of the first. Kenny Kysar (Corbin, Ky.) and Matt Mahony (Fort White, Fla.) led things off with back-to-back singles to put runners on the corner. Mahony stole second before Luis Pimentel (Bani, D.R.) line a one-out, two-run single for 2-0 advantage.

However, Cumberland quickly responded with three runs in the bottom of the frame. With one out, Courtney Propst and Eric Mull lined back-to-back triples to cut the deficit to 2-1. Luis Martinez followed with a two-run home run to right, putting Cumberland up 3-2.

In the third, Union pulled even as Brett McAplin (Winchester, Ky.) lined a two-out single to drive in Joe Grinstead (Bowling Green, Ky.). Union reclaimed the lead in the fourth when Justin Hart (Lake Mary, Fla.) singled in Ramos, giving Union a 4-3 lead.

Propst belted a one-out home run to straightaway center field to make a 4-4 contest.

In the bottom of the sixth, Cumberland rallied for two runs in seize a 6-4 advantage. Austin Morgan singled Jason Bush, who got on with a single before stealing second. On the play, Morgan advanced over to third due to a fielding error in the outfield. Kyle West followed with a single to put Cumberland up by two.

In the ninth, Union tried to mount a rally. Kysar was hit by a pitch to put a runner on with no outs. However, Mahony struck out and then Ramos hit into a 5-4-3 double play to end the game.

Kysar led Union offensively in going 3-for-4 with a run scored, while Pimentel went 2-of-4 with two RBIs. Grinstead also batted 2-for-4 with a run scored.

For Cumberland, Propst and Mull each went 2-for-4 with a RBI, while Martinez was 1-of-4 with two batted in. Bush finished 2-for-4 with a run scored.

Clayton improved to 12-2 on the season with the win, going the distance and allowing four earned runs on 12 hits, one walk and one hit batter with seven strikeouts.

Popham dropped to 6-3 as he gave up six runs - five earned, on 10 hits and one walk with five strikeouts.