Eagles drop two to Cumberland

Early leads were sustained in two college baseball games on Wednesday.

Cumberland built early leads in each of the games of a doubleheader and swept Texas A&M UniversityTexarkana, 3-1 and 5-3, at George Dobson Field.

The Phoenix (16-5) extended their win streak to 10 games, while the Eagles dropped to 14-4.

Game 1 Cumberland 3, TAMU-T 1

Thomas Gulart pitched a complete game, gave up one run on seven hits, struck out three and walked one as the Phoenix went on to the victory.

Cumberland’s early 2-run lead was enough for the win.

Eagles’ starting pitcher Noah Sawyer threw 6 1-3 innings, gave up three runs on five hits, walked five and struck out one.

Cumberland juiced the bases in the second frame on a single, a walk, and a bunt single. The Phoenix scored their first run on a sacrifice fly ball, and tacked on a second score to go up, 2-0.

Tye Holliday singled to short, right center with one out for A&MTexarkana in the third inning. Joe Pearlman followed with a single that blooped over the pitcher’s head, but the threat was ended when the next batter hit into a double play.

George Gugino doubled to right field with one out in the fifth for the Eagles, but A&M-Texarkana failed to get him home.

The Phoenix tacked on an insurance run in the seventh to make it 3-0.

Bronson Butcher singled to lead off the seventh for the Eagles, and Cade Thomason walked. Chase Beebe singled to right field, but was

thrown out on a base-running error. Beebe’s single put runners on second and third with one out. The next batter popped up to second base for the second out.

Pinch hitter LT Hawkins smacked a single to right field to score pinch runner Heath Eubanks for A&M-Texarkana’s first and only run of the game.

Game 2 Cumberland 5, TAMU-T 3

The Phoenix plated a pair of runs in the top of the first on four singles and one walk. Cumberland added two more runs in the second on three hits as they jumped out to a 4-0 lead.

Chase Beebe led off with a double to right center for the Eagles. A batter later, Zachary Boehler walked, and then Kolton Perfect laced a single to center to juice the bases. A&M-Texarkana was unable to get any runs home as all three runners were left stranded.

Carlos Moseley had an RBI single for the Phoenix in the fourth to put Cumberland on top, 5-0.

Keone McKee reached on an error for the Eagles in the bottom of the fifth. Cole Beckham walked, and Butcher was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Beebe

popped a single to shallow left center to score McKee for A&MTexarkana’s first run of the game.

Beckham scored on a fielder’s choice to make it 5-2 going into the sixth frame.

The Eagles staged a rally in the sixth when Perfect led off with a single that rolled through the hole at shortstop. Keone McKee walloped a single to center field, and the fielder misplayed the ball as Perfect scored to make it 5-3 in favor of the Phoenix.

Andrew Morrow walked with two outs in the sixth, and Cade Thomason was called out at first in a very close play that ended A&M-Texarkana’s threat.

Staff photos by Josh Richert ■ Texas A&M University-Texarkana first baseman awaits the pickoff throw from Eagle pitcher Noah Sawyer as Cumberland University baserunner Jordan Hunt rushes back to the bag during the opener of a collegiate doubleheader Wednesday at George Dobson Field.

■ Texas A&M University-Texarkana shortstop throws to first during the second inning to help thwart a longer rally by Cumberland University, which won the opener, 3-1, and held a 4-0 lead in the second game after two innings Wednesday at George Dobson...

■ Texas A&M University-Texarkana second baseman Kolton Perfect chases an RBI single into right field during the first inning of Game 2 against Cumberland University on Wednesday at George Dobson Field.