Box Score

HARDEEVILLE, S.C. – An eight-run sixth inning broke open a close game as Cumberland (Tenn.) rallied to eliminate Virginia Intermont and stay alive with a 10-3 win in the NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round USC Beaufort Bracket on Tuesday.

Natalie Garcia's two-run homer to right-center put the Bulldogs (37-21) ahead, and Jessica Roper added a two-run blast later in the big inning to help Cumberland stave off elimination. The Bulldogs will face Spring Hill (Ala.) in an elimination game at 5:15 p.m., with the winner advancing to face top-seeded USC Beaufort in Wednesday's championship game.

The rally made a winner of reliever Courtney Maynard (20-10), who pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings in relief of Jessica Lozano.

The Cobras (36-14) took an early lead on Micalah Sacre's leadoff homer to center, only to see Cumberland tie it in the bottom of the frame on Sydney Broderick's RBI single. Both teams scored again in the third, as Virginia Intermont regained the lead on a throwing error, but Kacy Hobbs knotted it with a solo shot to left-center in the bottom of the inning.

Virginia Intermont moved back in front with a heads-up base-running play by Krystle Brenneman in the fifth but couldn't hold the lead, as the Bulldogs sent 12 batters to the plate in the sixth to break it open.

Reliever Bailee Packett (8-6) was tagged with the loss after allowing five runs (four earned) in 1 1/3 innings.