BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- Cumberlands (Ky.) won five straight elimination games to capture the Mid-South Conference Title.  Cumberlands’ earned a pair of victories over Cumberland (Tenn.) on Saturday at Bowling Green Ballpark, pulling away late in game one for a 14-4 win before walking off game two in dramatic fashion, 7-6.

Game One: Cumberlands 14, Cumberland 4

Cumberlands used a balanced offensive attack and a decisive sixth inning to take control of the opener.

After both teams traded runs in the second inning-highlighted by an RBI single from Cumberland’s Yuito Suzuki-the Patriots created separation in the fourth. A sacrifice fly from Justin Veloz and a two-run home run by Derick Andiarena pushed Cumberlands in front 4-1.

Cumberland answered in the bottom half as Dylan LaRue delivered a two-run home run to trim the deficit to one, 4-3.

The Patriots broke the game open in the sixth inning, plating six runs on five hits. Andiarena continued his standout performance at the plate, while Caden Petrey added a two-run double during the rally. Cumberlands added insurance runs in the seventh and eighth innings, including a two-run home run from Pedro Vasquez, to secure the 14-4 win.

Andiarena led the Patriots with three hits and five RBIs, while Vasquez drove in three runs. Jay Flynn also contributed three hits in the win.

For Cumberland, LaRue finished with two hits and two RBIs, while Gaines Haussin and Aidan McDonald each recorded multi-hit performances.

Game Two: Cumberlands’ 7, Cumberland 6

The nightcap delivered a back-and-forth battle that came down to the final inning.

Cumberlands struck first in the fourth inning, capitalizing on defensive miscues to take a 2-0 lead. Jay Flynn added an RBI single in the frame. The Patriots extended the lead to 3-1 in the fifth on a solo home run by Andiarena.

Cumberland chipped away and then surged ahead in the eighth inning. The Phoenix scored five runs in the frame, highlighted by an RBI single from Aidan McDonald, an RBI double from Wilser Then, and a two-run single by Cole Freeman, giving Cumberland a 6-3 advantage.

Cumberlands responded immediately in the bottom half of the inning, taking advantage of errors and timely hitting to plate three runs and even the score at 6-6.

In the ninth inning, the Phoenix put runners on but were unable to capitalize. In the bottom half, the Patriots loaded the bases and scored the game-winning run on a wild pitch, completing the comeback for a 7-6 victory.

Cumberland saw strong offensive performances from Camden Williamson, who tallied three hits, and Then, who also recorded three hits with an RBI. Freeman finished with two RBIs, while McDonald added two hits and a run driven in.

For Cumberlands, Andiarena continued to pace the offense with two hits and two RBIs, while Petrey and Vasquez each recorded multi-hit efforts.

Cumberlands earns the Mid-South Conference automatic berth to the NAIA National Tournament.