BASEBALL DROPS CONTEST AGAINST CUMBERLANDS IN MID-SOUTH CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Despite a strong final effort, the Lindsey Wilson baseball team could not pull off an upset victory over top-seeded Cumberlands (Ky.) in the Mid-South Conference Tournament, falling by a final of 9-6 this morning at the Bowling Green Ballpark.

The Blue Raiders, who fall to 23-22 overall with the loss, out-hit the Patriots on offense with nine hits compared to seven. However, LWC was hurt on defense with a fielding error while the pitching staff walked a combined eight batters.

The offense was anchored by Nico Martinez and Lucas Bault, who each tallied two hits apiece. Ty Menrath pulled in a team-high two RBIs.

From the mound, Bailey Turner picked up the start and was tabbed as the losing pitcher, going two complete innings while allowing four hits and six earned runs alongside recording a strikeout. Josh Barnett was the first option out of the bullpen, going 1 1/3 innings while allowing one hit and two earned runs alongside tabbing a strikeout of his own. Jalen Riley finished things off by throwing 4 2/3 innings of work while allowing two hits along with tossing two strikeouts.  

The top-seeded Patriots wasted no time by jumping out ahead early with two runs in the first inning. That lead would be extended with a grand slam an inning later.

Cumberlands continued to dominate the opening game of the day, crossing two more runs home in the fourth. 

Lindsey Wilson finally found the scoreboard in the fifth when Austin Rayno earned a walk with the bases loaded. However, Cumberlands quickly matched the lone run with one of its own in the bottom half of the inning.

The Blue Raiders gave a strong push in the final four innings. Martinez corralled an RBI and the second run of the game for the Blue Raiders in the sixth off a base hit. In the eighth, LWC brought another run around to score on a balk by the Patriots pitcher with the bases loaded. Later in that inning, Menrath notched a two-run RBI single to trim even further into the deficit. Henry Paulino was responsible for the final run of the game off an RBI double in the ninth.

Since the tournament is in double elimination format, the Blue Raiders will battle No. 6-seeded Thomas More (Ky.) today at 4 p.m. CT for a chance to continue on further in Bowling Green.