CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. -- The night began with celebration of a coaching wins milestone for Campbellsville Unviersity baseball head coach Beauford Sanders. With the game being televised on local cable by WLCU-TV, the stage was set for a hopefull first game win in a three-game Mid-South Conference set against Cumberland University.

The 14th-ranked Bulldogs had other plans though, as Cumberland created a two-game gap from the Tigers in the MSC standings with a 5-3 win.

Cumberland's first threat came in the top of the third, loading the bases with three singles, but Sean Bouthilette got a ground ball to second without allowing a run.

Cumberland starting pitcher Kevin T. Greene actually carried a no-hitter through three innings, despite trailing 1-0. Campellsville finagled its way around the bases in the bottom of the third to score without a hit or Cumberland error in the game. Brandon Johnson drew a leadoff walk to start the third and moved to second a sac bunt by Angelo Simmons. Shayne Kelly grounded out to second to move Johnson to third before Tanner Nielsen walked to place runners on the corners.

With Jacob Phillips battling at the plate, fouling off three straight, Nielsen took off for second on a 1-2 pitch but Greene threw a pickoff move to first, hoping to escape the inning. Nielsen kept the rundown going long enough for Johnson to steal home before being tagged out to end the inning.

The Tigers' run only further awakened the Bulldogs' bats. In the fourth, Daniel Harrison delivered a one-out triple of the top of the fence in right field. Tyler Anderson, who was 3-for-4 in the game, singled to score the tying run. Tiger starter Sean Bouthilette struck out the next two batters to strand Anderson on second.

Phillips led off the fourth with a base hit to left-center. Keaton Neeb followed with a single and Josh Potter drove in Phillips on a double play attempt. While Potter reached first on an wild throw, he was caught stretching to second for the second out of the inning. Campbellsville led 2-1 after four.

Cumberland's big inning came in the top of the fifth, scoring three runs off two hits and an error. Justin Johnston led off the inning with a shallow single to left and scored on a double by Craig Monson. Chris Hall, who was hit by a pitch in the inning moved to third on the double, but scored when Michael Bush missed a catch at second to end the play. Monson eventually took third on a wild pitch and scored on a sac fly by Ross.

Cumberland stretched its lead to 5-2 in the sixth with Anderson doubling to start the inning and scoring on an RBI single by Seaton.

Campbellsville worked to load the bases in the bottom of the sixth, beginning with a leadoff single by Nielsen. Potter kept the inning going with a two-out base hit to put runners on the corners, while Bush was hit by a pitch to load things up. Aaron Schwoebel reached on an error at second to allow Nielsen to score, but Johnson struck out to end the inning.

In the final three innings, Cumberland left four on base to Campbellsville's one. The Bulldogs actually left 10 runners on base in the game, while Campbellsville stranded only five.

Bouthilette gave up three earned runs and one unearned off eight hits through five innings. He did not allow a walk and struck out six. Matt Robertson took over in the fourth and closed the game with four hits, three walks and one earned run. He struck out three.

Greene went the distance for Cumberland, throwing 12 pitches, giving up five hits, three walks and two earned runs. He struck out four for his fifth win of the season.

Campbellsville (23-9, 9-4 MSC) will host Cumberland (24-13-1, 11-2 MSC) for a Mid-South Conference doubleheader Saturday at 3:30 p.m. EDT. The games will be broadcasted on WLCU 88.7 FM.