Williamsburg, KY – Top-seed Bryan College used a five-run fourth inning to break open the game and knock off second-seed University of the Cumberlands 11-8 in the elimination bracket of the Williamsburg Bracket of the NAIA Baseball Opening Round Tuesday night at Doyle Buhl Stadium.  With the win the Lions improve to 41-16, while the Patriots finish the season 47-11.

Bryan struck first as Trevor Behrent sent the second pitch of the game over the leftfield wall for a leadoff homerun to give the Lions a 1-0 lead.  The game underwent a 3:55 minute rain delay due to lightening.

Play resumed with Anthony Martinez retiring the next three batters to move to the bottom half of the inning.  Roberto Prado hit a leadoff single, stole second and advanced to third on a wild throw.  Raudy Martinez used a RBI groundout to score Prado and tie the game at 1-1.

Cumberlands took its first lead of the game in the bottom of the second as the Patriots used a walk and back-to-back singles to load the bases with no outs.  Robbie Stroub drew an RBI walk to score Bryan Benz and give the Patriots a 2-1 lead.  Prado followed with a two-run single, before Orley Arellano hit an RBI groundout to give UC a 5-1 advantage.

Bryan responded with a run in the top of the third to make the score 5-2.  The score remained that way until the top of the fourth when the Lions plated four runs to retake the lead.  Bryan loaded the bases with no outs, before Tyler Scott hit an RBI single to right cutting the score to 5-3.  The Lions plated three runs, before Fernando Garcia sent an RBI single to left scoring Behrent and giving Bryan a 7-5 lead.

The Lions added a run in the fifth and two in the seventh to extend their lead to 10-5. 

Cumberlands battled back in the seventh as Andrew Ramos and J.C. Santos both reached base to start the inning. UC took advantage of a Lions' miscue as Robbie Stroub reach on an error, while Ramos came around to score. Reed Spata laid down a RBI sacrifice squeeze scoring Santos as the Patriots cut the lead to 10-7.  Jesus Astudillo came in to pitch for Bryan and got Martinez to hit into a double play to end the inning.

Bryan extended its lead in the eighth as Garcia reach on a fielder's choice and scored on a Rodney Tennie single down the left field line to make it 11-7.  In the bottom of the ninth, Stroub drew a leadoff walk.  Britton Elmore pinch-ran and used back-to-back ground outs to score and make it 11-8.  The Patriots got two straight singles before Bryan was able to record the final out for the 11-8 final.

Behrent led the way for Bryan going 2-5 with three RBI and a pair of runs scored.  Cody Young, Scoggins, and Scott each notched a pair of hits in the win.  Brandon Marklund (6-0) pitches 6.1 innings scattering nine hits and six runs to earn the win.

Cumberlands was led by Santos who went 3-5 with a pair of runs scored, while Prado added two hits, three RBI and a run scored.  Andrew Ramos and Stroub each finished with two hits. Martinez (6-2) takes the loss after pitching 3.1 inning allowing seven runs on five hits with three strikeouts. 

Bryan advances to the next round where they will face third-seed Point Park in an elimination game Wednesday, May 16, at 10 a.m. Cumberlands is eliminated from the NAIA Championship Opening Round.