MASON, Ohio – Campbellsville University's comeback season came to an end Friday night, one win away from playing for a national title. The Tigers managed to out-hit Southeastern University, but were unable to erase a third inning deficit in a 2-0 NCCAA World Series semifinal loss at Legacy Field.

Originally scheduled for an 8 p.m. EDT start at Prasco Park, the game was moved to the synthetic turf surface at Legacy Field and moved up to 6 p.m. in hopes to avoid the rain. Once the weather moved in, the start was delayed to 8:15 p.m., before the Tigers took the field as the home team.

Matt Robertson (4-1) shut down the Fire Storm in the first two innings in a pitchers dual with SEU's Johnnie Kirkland (10-3).

Campbellsville's Brandon Johnson was the first to collect a hit in the game in the bottom of the second, singling up the middle after two strike outs by Kirkland. Johnson stole second and Travis Hayes was hit by a pitch to give either team their first threat of the night. Kirkland, throwing on one day of rest, got a ground ball fielder's choice to get out of the jam.

Southeastern received similar offensive production in the top of the third. Robertson walked Carlos Guzman and then gave up a single to right by Josh Gordon. Guzman's courtesy runner, Cody Light, stretched for third as Shane Woodson delivered a strong throw to third. Light was called safe as he slid in as Michael Bush applied the tag at third. The call stood after a lengthy argument.

SEU suddenly had runners on the corners with no outs.

Phillip Kish pushed a bunt down the first base line for a near infield hit, but Johnson charged in and made a sweeping tag, which Kish was later called out on after a second questioned call, placing runners on first and second. Ryne Knuth followed with an RBI single to shallow centerfield to score Light. After a throw to the plate, CU catcher Keaton Neeb tried to get Knuth stretching at second, but the ball short hopped and was flicked into shallow center. Gordon scored from third on the play, giving Southeastern a 2-0 lead.

Campbellsville put a runner on with two outs in each of the next four innings, but ended up leaving seven on base in the game.

Tylar Schmunk took over on the mound for Campbellsville in the fourth. He allowed one base runner and struck out four in the fourth and fifth innings combined.

Meanwhile, Michael Bush was hit by a pitch and stole second in the third and Brandon Johnson reached on a two-base error in center with two outs in the fourth. Nielsen was hit with two outs in the fifth and stranded on first.

Allen Hewey inherited two base runners in the sixth with one out after Schmunk walked one and hit one. Hewey used a ground ball to get the second out and then got Gordon to strike out swinging on a 3-2 pitch to end the inning. The K was CU's 415^th of the season, tying the Tigers' single-season strikeouts record, previously set in 2010.

Campbellsville tried to get some momentum going in the bottom of the sixth, as Carlos Torres crushed a one-out double off the top of the left-centerfield fence. The hit closed the book on Kirkland, who pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing only two hits and striking out three. Aaron Schwoebel followed with a single deep behind the second base bag off SEU reliever Corey Turner.

However, Kish moved in from short and struck out the next two batters to end the inning.

Brett DeRooy started the seventh for CU, hitting Kish as the leadoff hitter, and then got a fielder's choice bunt and fly ball to record the first two outs. Mason Yates also saw action, giving up a walk, before getting a ground ball to end the inning.

Kish shut down the Tigers in order in the bottom of the seventh for his 18^th save of the season.

Campbellsville closes its season at 39-20 after going 11-3 in postseason tournaments. The Tigers opened the season 19-4 and unbeaten in Mid-South Conference action entering the third weekend in March. Beginning with its first MSC series loss at home to UVA-Wise, March 22-23, Campbellsville struggled over the next four weeks, going 8-13 to close the regular season.

The Tigers rallied in the postseason though, finishing runner-up in the Mid-South Conference Tournament and winning the NCCAA Mid-East Region championship to qualify for the program's first NCCAA Division I World Series.

Southeastern (39-28) will face defending champion California Baptist University (42-18) in the NCCAA World Series championship game on Saturday at 11 a.m. EDT.
 

In addition to game day coverage, CU Sports Information Director, and Tiger Baseball travel companion, Chris Megginson, will keep fans updated from the NCCAA World Series with his World Series Notebook.

To follow all of the World Series action, click here.