Elizabethtown, Kentucky
A offensive brigade took place in the bottom of the first inning for the Tigers as they put up a 7 spot. That inning would set the trend for the night as a combined 24 runs were scored on 32 hits, 7 of which were in the way of the long ball. Campbellsville came out on top despite a valiant effort from Spalding who made it surprisingly close.
Sophomore Chris Curley took the mound for the Tigers in his first start of the year. After a scoreless first inning, the Tigers staked Curley to a 7-0 lead. After the first two Tiger hitters flew out in the first, the two out nightmare started. Curley doubled off the center field wall and Temple Macdonald followed with a towering homerun over the right field wall. Brandon Hunter then laced a single to center and Matt Lepage followed with damage of his own with a double into the right center gap. Senior Clayton Howell kept the rally going with a homerun lined over the left center wall. Jason Beale, Neil Sanders, and Urbaneja would follow with hits of their own to bring the run total to 7. With two outs, the Tigers had nine straight batters reach base, seven of which were base hits.
Spalding was not scared off by the 7 run deficit as they answered back in the top of the second. After two consecutive singles, Spalding's Thompson lifted a fast ball over the left field wall for a three run shot, closing the gap to 4. It was the first of five homeruns for Spalding.
Both teams slugged it out all game, and Spalding closed the gap to 11-10. With the Tigers up 11-10 in the bottom of the eighth, they managed to push across two insurance runs. After Jason Beale collected his fourth hit of the night, freshman Ben Holman managed to draw a walk. Hector Urbaneja managed to once again come up big as he laced a double into the left center gap, giving the Tigers a 13-10 lead.
Spalding would threaten in the top of the ninth, but to no avail. Left hander Marc Wilson managed to shut down Spalding, clinching the win for the Tigers. Curtis Payne picked up the win out of the pen for the Tigers, and Marc Wilson was credited with the save.
Jason Beale led the charge on offense going 4 for 4, while scoring 3 runs and collecting an RBI. Other big hitters were Hector Urbaneja (3 for 5, 2 2B, 4 RBI), Temple Macdonald (2 for 3, HR, 3 R, 2 RBI), Matt Lepage (2 for 4, 2B, 2 RBI), and Clayton Howell (1 for 3, HR, 3 RBI).
The Tigers will resume conference play this weekend as they will host Pikeville. First pitch of the four game series is scheduled for Saturday at 1:00 P.M. The Tigers will send MSC strikeout leader Jeff Duda to the mound to kick off the series.
