NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Campbellsville Tigers are officially the 2013 National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Mid-East Regional Champs after a 6-5 defeat over Trevecca Nazarene University this afternoon. Travis Hayes and Carlos Torres both had vital two-out hits to give CU four of its six runs.

"I feel fantastic," said head Coach Beauford Sanders. "This is wonderful and a great accomplishment. Of course we were disappointed when we didn't qualify for the NAIA opening round, but to have this opportunity and to see us get together and play better baseball and win the thing is great. We started off slow the first day, but the last two games have been outstanding."

Matt Robertson, (Allen) Hewey, and (Tylar) Schmunk did a great job on the mound today. Hayes and Torres gave us back-to-back innings with clutch two-out hits, driving in runs we needed."  

Aaron Schwoebel was the only Tiger to manage a hit in the initial three innings of play, Trevecca only with three of its own, keeping the board scoreless until the fourth.

Tiger third baseman Michael Bush got the momentum going in the fourth with a single to left. Brandon Johnson was next to reach base safely due to a Trevecca fielding error followed by a Schwoebel single to load the bases.

A choppy grounder from Torres allowed the first RBI of the game, an Angelo Simmons single following for the second.

Campellsville bats weren't through, though. Hayes singled up the middle to score both Simmons and Torres before the half of the inning ended, 4-0 CU.

The Trojans answered in the bottom with two runs of their own off of a double, single, and one Tiger error (4-2 CU).

Senior Keaton Neeb singled with one out in the fifth, Levi McCamish pinch running for the catcher. Brandon Johnson followed with a single of his own, both he and McCamish scoring on a two-out double from Torres (6-2 CU).

Once again, Trevecca responded in the bottom of the inning, scoring one run off one hit (6-3 CU).

Two scoreless innings followed until the bottom of the seventh when Trevecca gave Campbellsville a scare, putting up a quick two runs to put the score at 6-5.

Trojan Ryan Rayburn struck out for what would have been the second out, but a dropped third strike allowed him to run to first. Neeb was unable to locate the ball, allowing Rayburn to advance to second and in perfect position to score after a Hunter Newman double. Newman also scored on a Blake Rogers single up the middle.

Tiger middle-infielders Tanner Nielsen and Hayes saved the day, though, turning a double play on a grounder to second base and ensuring the CU victory.

Junior Matt Robertson earned the win in the circle, pitching the first 4 1/2 innings, allowing six hits, three runs, two earned runs, and striking out four. Allen Hewey pitched just over an inning of relief, allowing only one hit and striking out three. Tylar Schmunk was on the mound for the seventh, allowing two hits, two runs and striking out one.

Johnson and Schwoebel were the only Tigers to manage two hits in the contest, followed by Bush, Neeb, Torres, Simmons, and Hayes with one a piece.

Torres had three RBIs, Hayes with two, and Schwoebel with one.

The win will advance CU to the NCCAA World Series to be played May 15-18 at Presco Park in Mason, Ohio. Complete information about the World Series will be released Sunday, May 12.