Bluefield threatened with base runners late in both Mid-South Conference softball contests on Saturday, but the hosting Cumberland Bulldogs held off the Lady Rams for 2-0 and 6-2 victories.

The Lady Rams drop to 6-20 overall, 1-11 MSC. Cumberland improves to 22-9 on the year and 4-4 in conference contests.

Game 1: Cumberland 2, Bluefield 0

Cumberland earned a 2-0 lead behind single runs in both the first and third innings. Both innings began with a leadoff walk for Natalie Garcia. In the first, Garcia was sacrificed to second, advanced to third on a single and scored on a Bluefield throwing error. She was plated again in the third, as she stole second base before moving to third on another sacrifice bunt. Allison Blackwood singled to give the hosts a 2-0 lead.

Bluefield put runners in scoring position in both the sixth and seventh innings, but the Bulldogs found a way to hold the Lady Rams scoreless including a no-out, bases-loaded double play in the seventh.

Aline Uehara (2-10) registered the loss for the Lady Rams, surrendering four hits and walking four. Courtney Maynard (13-2) took the win for Cumberland, striking out 11.

Game 2: Cumberland 6, Bluefield 2

Bluefield took a 1-0 lead early in game one as Kasey Holcomb doubled to right and later scored on a throwing error from the Bulldogs' pitcher.


Cumberland jumped on top through two innings, with Garcia hitting a bases-clearing double.

The Bulldogs tacked on one more for a 4-1 lead through three innings, while two scoreless innings followed.

Heather Thomas came through for the Lady Rams in the sixth frame, driving in Uehara on a two-out single which brought the score to 4-2.

However, the Bulldogs responded to their trimmed lead and posted two runs in their next at bat and held on for the 6-2 win.