CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – Tiger baseball was unable to complete a game one come back but picked up a last inning RBI single from Alex Scanlan in game two, to settle for a double-header split with Indiana University Southeast on Tuesday, 5-6, 8-7.

Indiana University Southeast 7, Campbellsville 6 (10 innings) - BOX SCORE
 

Indiana University Southeast (6-5) used a four-run fourth inning in game one to take a commanding 5-0 lead. But Campbellsville (5-4) roared back and picked up three runs in the fifth inning and two in the bottom of the seventh to send the game into extra frames. IUS scored two runs in the top of the 10^th inning but Campbellsville was unable to complete the comeback.

Blake Bottoms started for the Tigers on the mound. The Eastern Kentucky University transfer was making his first start and second appearance after a rough outing on opening weekend. The junior right-handed pitcher only made it to the third inning Tuesday.

Scanland misplayed a groundball to lead off the fourth inning and Bottoms hit the next batter to set up IUS with two runners on base and Kyle Asher at the plate. Bottoms left a fastball high and over the plate and Asher connected on a line drive that got up into the wind and carried out of the park. The three-run home run gave the Grenadiers a 3-0 lead.

After two straight Grenadier singles, Bottoms hit another batter causing pitching coach Brad Neffendorf to make a change on the mound.

Neffendorf and head coach Beauford Sanders decided to bring in lefty Alex Watson from the bullpen. Watson came into a tough situation, with bases loaded and no outs. But the junior recorded a ground ball double play, scoring one run, and a fly ball out to the next batter to end the inning with IUS leading 5-0.

"Within that inning, if we could have minimized damage the end result may have been a little different," said Neffendorf. "The hit-by-pitch and then falling behind the next batter hurt Blake (Bottoms). We didn't execute the pitch and Asher made good contact on a mistake pitch. Watson came in and was able to minimize the damage and he executed pitches. He was able to pick up a double play and a fly ball out to get us out of that jam."

Campbellsville did not give in, though, as the Tigers put up a three spot and cut the lead to 5-3. Gentry Kinsella picked up a one-out single and Jaime Valle drew a walk to put runners on first and second. Carlos Torres continued his hot hitting, as he singled down the left field line to move the runners up one base.

After an Alex Gutierrez strikeout, Alex Kline and Jacob Russell both delivered RBI singles (Kline 1 RBI, Russell 2). Campbellsville failed to produce any runs in the fifth and sixth innings but the Tigers were able to make some noise in the seventh.

Torres led off with a hit-by-pitch and was replaced with a pinch runner in Levi McCamish. After a second Gutierrez strikeout, Alex Kline picked his teammate up once again with a double down the right field line, advancing McCamish to third base.

Steve Ferraro came up with two outs and two runners on. After getting down 0-2, the junior hit a bloop double down the right field line to score both, knotting the game at seven.

Allen Hewey (0-1) came in and pitched the final 2 1/3 innings for the Tigers to surrender his first loss of the season. He allowed four hits and two runs, both coming in the 10^th inning. Frank Pluskota used a bunt single to lead off the 10^th and Louis Helmberg and Josh Beams both picked up singles to load the bases.

After a weak ground ball fielders choice, Brad Walker delivered a two RBI single to uncork the tie and give IUS a two-run lead, 7-5.

"Allen Hewey had only one inning of work coming in off an injury and made some good pitches for us," said Neffendorf. "He did a great job and gave us a chance to win the game in the later innings."

CU was able to pick up a run and rally a bit in the bottom half of the 10^th inning, but came up short. Russell led off and reach safely on a throwing error by the pitcher. Scanlan singled up the middle two batters later, and Kinsella delivered an RBI single to plate a run. But the rally ended after Valle grounded out to end game one, 7-6.

Evan Bickett (1-0) picked up the win for the Grenadiers, pitching three innings and giving up one run on two hits.


Campbellsville 8, Indiana University Southeast 7 - BOX SCORE

Game two started much like the first, as both teams used crooked number innings in the second and third. Freshman Dexter Cline made his first collegiate start and a superb performance was overshadowed by five Tiger errors.

Cline finished with 55 total pitches and only 12 were thrown for balls outside the strike zone, which really impressed his coaches.

"Dexter Cline did a phenominal job for us today and we just did not play the defense we are able to play," said Neffendorf. "We made some costly errors but Dexter will have a bright future at Campbellsvile and he will continue to grow."

After a lead off error by Campbellsville, Beams singled up the middle as the ball was sharply hit off Clines left ankle, ricocheting over past first base. The next IUS batter, Jarrett Young, recorded an RBI doubled, which then led to a Marcus Howard base hit bunt that plated the second run of inning before CU could record an out.

Tyler Adams then also attempted a suicide squeeze and was successful but Cline's throw eluding first baseman Alex Gutierrez to score Young from third base. Pluskota attempted yet another bunt for IUS but Cline made a nice barehanded play to cut down Howard at the plate.

Although CU gave up three runs in the top of the third, the Tigers came back and put a four spot up in the bottom half. Torres used an RBI single to plate Kinsella, Russell delivered another two RBI single and Gutierrez came through with a one-out RBI sacrifice fly to plate Russell from third.

IUS answered with a four run inning of themselves and put a four spot up in the top of the fifth but Scanlan redeemed himself from the earlier error and delivered an RBI bloop single down the left field line to score the go-ahead run, 8-7.

Alex Kline came into the top of the seventh and picked up his first save of the young season, giving up only one hit and striking out one, in one innings work.

"Overall as a pitching staff I was pleased with how eveyone competed on the mound. We are doing things well and we are that close to putting it all together in games. When we start to execute our pitches on a regular basis we will be that much better as a staff."

Jamie Valle led the Tigers with the stick, going 5-for-8 in both games driving in one run from the two-hole. Gentry Kinsella picked up three hits in eight at bats from the lead off spot and scored three runs overall. Alex Kline and Alex Scanlan both finished 3-for-8 in the two games and picked up four RBIs combined. Torres was 3-for-6 but got on base five out of eight at bats after being plunked twice by opposing pitchers.

With the win the Tigers will now go into their first conference series of the season on a good note and start with Highway 55 Rival, Lindsey Wilson College on Friday night. Game time is set for 4 p.m. eastern time at LWC's Egnew Park in Columbia, Ky. Game times for Saturday's double header are schedule for 1 and 3:30 p.m.

To follow Tiger baseball throughout the rest of the 2014 season, check them out on Twitter-@CTigersBaseball and @CvilleTigers. Also on Facebook – CampbellsvilleTigers.