JACKSON, Miss. – Campbellsville University shook off a pair of season-opening losses to down the University of Saint Francis (Ind.), 5-1, Saturday afternoon at Belhaven University's Smith-Wills Stadium.

Batting last for the first time this season, the Tigers used a three-run bottom of the first and two-run fifth to record their first win of 2014.

"We have made improvements in each game and played a lot better today," Its encouraging to see us make the adjustments after having a shot yesterday."

Jacob Russell, a spring semester transfer from the University of Kentucky, drove in four of the Tigers runs, hitting 3-for-4 from the seven spot in the lineup.

Bret DeRooy recorded the win in six innings of work, allowing one earned run off nine hits. He struck out six and walked one.

Saint Francis (0-3) entered the game 0-2 on the weekend after being outscored 28-5 in losses against Belhaven and No. 4 Missouri Baptist University. David Yoder led off the game with a single and scored on a one-out single be Zach Vanlandingham before Kyle McKay grounded into an inning-ending double-play.

Campbellsville answered in bottom of the first after loading the bases with no outs. Genty Kinsella singled to start the inning, followed by a Ricky McColluch walk and bunt single by Carlos Torres. Jaime Valle evened the score, 1-1, hitting into a fielder's choice at third to retire McColluch. Alex Kline also hit into a fielder's choice, as Saint Francis retired the lead runner, Torres, at third. With two outs, Alex Gutierez got a free pass to load the bases again, being hit by USF pitcher Wesley Hunsucker. He was the first of three Tiger batters plunked in the game by Hunsucker.

Russell drove in his first two runs with a single to left in the first before Ryan Squires grounded out to end the inning with a 3-1 lead.

DeRooy retired the side in the second and allowed a single and walk in the third before striking out Vanlandingham to end the inning.

The Cougars collected three hits in the fourth, including a double by Tanner Foster but picked off two runners to hold Saint Francis at bay.

Campbellsville was held hitless in the second and third, but Russell doubled to lead off the fourth. Ryan Squires bunted him to third and Alex Scanlan drew a walk and stole second to put two Tigers in scoring position before both were stranded.

Russell's next big hit came in the bottom of the fifth, a two-out, two-RBI double down the right field line. Torres doubled to start the inning, followed by a Valle single. The Tigers attempted a double steal for their first run, but Torres was retired at home on a 2-6-2 play.

"Jake stepped up with a two out hit and picked up his first two RBIs in the first inning," said Sanders. "But he played well on defense as well, as he grabbed a sinking liner late in the ball game."

Saint Francis attempted to answer in the sixth, collecting a leadoff single by Vanlandingham and a two-out double by Varner. However, Torres connected with McColluch on a relay throw home to retire Vanlandingham.

Blake Bottoms relieved DeRooy to start the seventh, and was pulled in the eighth after walking two. TR Dune fanned a pair and got a pop up to get out of the inning. Kline closed the game in the eighth, allowing one hit and striking out two.

Torres and Vale followed Russell's lead at the plate, both hitting 2-for-3. Kinsella's leadoff single was the Tigers' only other hit in the game.

Yoder, Vanlandingham and Varner each had two hits for the Cougars. Hunsucker allowed five earned runs of seven runs and two walks in the loss.

"We executed better pitches today in tight situations," said Sanders. "It was a boost for us to record two double plays and a 7-4-2 put out at the homeplate to keep Vanlandingham from scoring."

Campbellsville (1-2) is scheduled to host Taylor University for a home-opening double header Friday, Feb. 21 at 1 p.m. EST. Friday's games will be the first of a six games over five days for CU. The Tigers will host Bethel College (Ind.) at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11, and then No. 18 Judson College (Ill.) at 3:30 p.m. the same day. CU will then travel to Egnew Field in Columbia, Ky., Sunday, Feb. 23 for a neutral field game against Judson and then will return home Tuesday, Feb. 25 for its final pre-Mid-South Conference game against Indiana University Southeast at 2 p.m. EST.