Box Score

JACKSON, Miss. – After having to delay the start of its season for three days, Campbellsville University Baseball was on the road to kick off 2014. The Tigers dropped the season opener to No. 4 Missouri Baptist University, 13-3.

"Umffff This is the last thing I thought was going to happen," said CU Head Coach Beauford Sanders. "We had moments when pitchers threw the ball well but it wasn't consistent enough for a team as good as Missouri Baptist. We got some pitches up and they tore the cover off the ball."

Campbellsville came into the game with eight new faces in the starting lineup. Leadoff batter Gentry Kinsella started CU on a positive note in the opening frame and his single just past Josh Fuentes at shortstop seemed to set the tone

CU used small ball to advance Kinsella into scoring position and plate its first run of the young season. Alex Scanlan grounded out to Fuentes and Alex Gutierrez had a sharp groundball up the middle but pitcher Brandon Zywicki got a hand on the ball and sent it straight to Fuentes who threw on to first for the out. But Kinsella was able to scamper home once he saw the ball get past the pitcher.

1-0 CU in the top of the first.

 

Missouri Baptist, which had already played four games and brought in a record of 1-3, scored three runs in the first inning.  All the runs, though, came with two outs.

 

CU recorded two quick outs on infield popups but righthander Matt Robertson, who was making the 15^th start of his two-year career, gave up a double, a passed ball, and a single to plate the Spartans' first of three runs.

 

The Tigers struggled to keep pace with Missouri Baptist, as Zywick set nine CU batters down in a row without giving up a hit.

 

MBU scored another run in the second inning on two hits and extended its lead to just 4-1.

 

Campbellsville seemed to find life in the fifth inning, as returning catcher/DH Carlos Torres singled to center field. Winter break transfer Jacob Russell also used a single to put runners on first and second but the rally ended soon after. With a wild pitch in the dirt, Torres read it and tried to advance but was throw out at third base. Steve Ferarro and Ricky McColloch both grounded out to end the fifth with CU still trailing 4-1.

 

After the Spartans recorded three straight hits in the sixth inning, Sanders made a pitching change and went from senior to freshman. Dexter Cline made his collegiate debut and gave up two runs on two hits in one full inning of work.

 

"Big Matt pitched well but left his ball up the majority of the time," said Sanders. "He was one pitch from getting out of the first inning but they scored three quick runs. To his credit he hung in there and had three great innings of work."
 

"Dexter Cline threw well," said CU pitching coach Brad Neffendorf. "Missouri Baptist had some bad contact on balls and Cline gave up two free bases. They scored two runs on a flare that tipped off McColloch's glove in shallow left."

 

CU made another pitching change in the seventh, as T.R. Dunne made his Tiger debut. Dunne gave up only one run and struck out one in one inning of work. Alex Watson also made his season debut and seemed to fair like the others. Watson gave up three runs on three hits while striking out two.

 

Missouri Baptist scored three runs in four separate innings and that is a killer for any team.

 

"Our defense didn't kick it around, as we only had one error and that was an iffy error at best," said Sanders. "We have to give Missouri Baptist credit, though, because they squared up a lot of balls and it showed they have played four games already."

 

Campbellsville didn't fair as well in the hits category. The Tigers recorded only six hits, all on singles. Kinsella recorded (2), Scanlan (1), Torres (1), Russell (1), and McColloch (1).

 

"I was surprised we rolled over on as many balls as we did," said Sanders. "We didn't barrel up enough pitches. Their pitching wasn't overpowering as we didn't see anyone over 85 mph. It shows the velocity doesn't mean anything when the pitchers have good off speed to keep hitters off balance."

 

Missouri Baptist moved to 2-3 on the year, while the Tigers dropped to 0-1. CU will square off against host Belhaven University. The Blazers have already played seven games and sit at 6-1 overall with their only loss to LSU-Alexandria on Jan. 31.

 

CU will start Chris Tuma for tomorrow's game, which is slated to start at 5 p.m. ET. You can follow live video and stats, here

 

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