May 26, 2006

LEWISTON, Idaho - Alberto Cruz led a 14-hit attack with three hits and three RBI to help Cumberland University of Lebanon, Tenn.,  to a 7-1 victory over Auburn University-Montgomery in the opening round of the 50^th annual Avista NAIA World Series at Lewis-Clark State College's Harris Field on Friday.

Cumberland, which won the Series two years ago, scored in six of the nine innings it batted in to gradually pull away from the Senators.

Cumberland, the No. 4 seed in the Series, improved to 48-16 with the win, while AUM, the No. 5 seed, fell to 47-19.

Cumberland scored solo runs in the first and third innings. An error led to the first run, while Cruz's RBI single in the third made it 2-0.

The Bulldogs made it 4-0 in the fifth as Dorian Rojas and Cruz hit back-to-back home runs to right field off AUM starter Scott Mularz.

The Senators picked up their only run in the bottom of the fifth when Ryan Nelson was hit by a pitch. Stephen Patrick followed with a bunt single and both moved up a base on an errant throw. A sacrifice fly by leadoff hitter Cortez Pearson scored Nelson, but the Senators left two stranded.

Cumberland then scored solo runs in the final three inning as Cruz had an RBI single in the seventh, Caleb Barrett doubled in a run in the eighth and Nolan McCue had an RBI single in the ninth.

Eight Cumberland starters had at least one hit in the game as Cruze and Victor Alvarez led the way with three apiece. Rojas added two RBI.

Pearson had two of AUM's eight hits.

Cumberland starter Drew Shetrone (10-1) picked up the win, allowing seven hits and one unearned run over eight innings. He also struck out five and didn't walk a batter. Adam Tomlinson allowed a hit in his ninth-inning appearance.

Mularz (7-3) was touched for seven hits and four runs in five innings, but did strike out five. Three AUM relievers allowed seven more hits and three runs.

Cumberland receives a bye and won't play again until Monday at 7p.m. against the winner of Saturday's Concordia vs. Embry-Riddle game. AUM resumes action at 8:30 a.m., Pacific time, Saturday against Seton Hill of Pennsylvania. Seton Hill (45-18) fell to Concordia 5-4 on Friday.

-NAIA-