Box Score
BLUEFIELD, Va. – Cumberland University grabbed a 5-4 lead in the top of the 12^th, but Tyler Timmer's second home run of the night and a two-out single from Sawyer McLamb four batters later sealed the 6-5, come-from-behind win for the Bluefield College baseball team in Mid-South Conference action on Friday night at Bowen Field.
 
The Bulldogs (30-17, 12-9 MSC) took a 4-0 lead after two innings, but starting pitcher Zac Russell-Myers settled in over his final seven innings of work for the Rams (30-12, 11-10 MSC) and allowed just four hits after the second inning.
 
Bluefield posted single runs in both the third and fifth frames before Timmer squared the ballgame at 4-4 with a two-run homer in the seventh.
 
Neither team could manufacture a run over the next four innings despite batters reaching base in all but one of the eight at-bats.
 
Justin Byrd stole second following a one-out single up the middle in the 12^th inning. Richie Seaton followed with sharply struck ball which deflected off McLamb and into centerfield, allowing Byrd to score the go-ahead run.
 
Timmer's second home run—and third of the season—replicated his first of the night, going over the left field wall and tying the game. After a groundout, Jacob Wright singled to left and Daniel Copeland reached on a walk, setting the stage for McLamb.
 
While McLamb struggled on the field early, committing all four of BC's error's on the night, the Asheville, N.C., native closed the game strong at the plate with singles in the eighth, 11^th frames and finally the 12^th inning. The second baseman faced an 0-2 count and sent the following pitch up the middle, while a slightly off-target throw from the Bulldogs' centerfielder allowed Wright to slide in safely for the 6-5 win.
 
The extra-inning game was the fifth of the year for Bluefield—with each being MSC contests. The Rams dropped their first three that went to extras, but have now won their last two.
 
Jacob Schober, McLamb, and Kahlin Villines each tallied three hits for BC. Three more Rams claimed multi-hit games, as BC notched 17 hits on the night.
 
Russell-Myers was relieved by Ryan Shockey (8-2) after nine innings of work, as the Advance, N.C., native allowed four runs—three earned—on eight hits. Russell-Myers struck out five and walked four.
 
Shockey pitched out of a one-out, first-and-third jam in the 10^th inning by getting a strikeout and a popout to hold the Bulldogs. Shockey pitched three innings to claim the win, giving up one run on five hits and striking out four.
 
CU's Anthony Gomez tossed over 130 pitches in 10.2 innings of action on the mound, scattering 13 hits for the Rams and allowing four runs. He struck out seven and walked one in the no-decision. Austin Williams (0-2) came on in relieve and pitched one-plus innings, allowing two runs on four hits while walking one.
 
Sam Lind lifted Cumberland to a 3-0 lead with his team-leading ninth home run in the first inning, after a leadoff error and a Ricky Coleman single placed two on base.
 
A pair of one-out singles in the second, then a ground out earned the visitors a 4-0 advantage.
 
Bluefield started its comeback in the third when Villines doubled then was driven in by Tyler Lundgren on a two-out single to right field.
 
The Rams struck again in the fifth, as Tyler Rome began the action with a double and advanced on a wild throw back to the infield. Villines drove him in with a sacrifice fly to right field, making BC's deficit 4-2.
 
Villines was part of the Rams' scoring once again in the seventh. He led off the inning with a double and stole third before Timmer went deep to left to pull BC even, 4-4.
 
Bluefield and Cumberland square off again Saturday, closing the Rams' final home series of the season with a 1 p.m. doubleheader. The Rams' seniors, Lundgren, Russell-Myers, Villines, and Wright will be honored between games.