CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – The first base dugout emptied quickly Friday afternoon as Campbellsville University players wearing rally caps swarmed Alex Kline and pushed him from first base halfway into right field. The dog pile in the right field grass was to celebrate Kline's game-winning RBI single to open a three-game Mid-South Conference home stand against University of the Cumberlands at HIG Field.

Kline delivered CU's third consecutive two-out hit in the bottom of the ninth to drive in Alex Scanlan for the 3-2 win.

Campbellsville trailed 2-1 entering the ninth with the middle of its order coming up. Carlos Torres popped up behind home plate and Jaime Valle grounded to second to put the Tigers' backs to the wall. Jacob Russell, who collected a ninth-inning game-winning hit Tuesday against Mid-Continent, hit a laser down the first base line and into the right field corner for a two-out double. Scanlan then followed with a double to left-center to score Levi McCamish, who was running for Russell, evening the score, 2-2.

Kline's game-winning hit is only the third time this season CU has strung together back-to-back-to-back hits in a game. The first was the 10^th inning rally in a 3-2 win at Lindsey Wilson on March 1 and the other was during a six-run third inning for a 9-5 win at Lee University on March 5.

Since that March 5 win, five of the Tigers' last six games have been decided by one run, including three 3-2 wins.

Campbellsville got on the board in the first with an RBI single by Torres to score Gentry Kinsella, who drew a walk to start the inning.

Starting pitchers Bret DeRooy and Kevin Schubert were locked in a pitcher's duel most of the day, as DeRooy held the Patriots to only two hits through the first five innings. The second of those hits was a two-out single by Claudio Valencia in the third to tie the game, 1-1.

DeRooy and Schubert battled through seven until DeRooy was pulled in the eighth after giving up a hit, walk and sac bunt to put two in scoring position.

Allen Hewey took over in relief. He hit Keith Tidwell to load the bases and managed to get a ground ball to short to hopefully force the out at home, but Ricky McColloch bobbled the grounder and missed his chance to retire the lead runner. McColloch recovered to throw Zach McRoberts out at first. Hewey worked out of the jam.

DeRooy's day finished with two earned runs off four hits and five walks. He struck out nine.

The Tigers hoped to even the score in the eighth as Kinsella doubled with two outs but was left stranded.

Schubert exited after eight innings of work, allowing five hits and a walk on the day. Valencia moved from second base to the mound, but blew the opportunity for his third save of the season. Hewey (3-1) recorded his second straight win in consecutive games for the Tigers, while Valencia fell to 1-1 on the year.

Scanlan, Torres and Cumberlands' Jared Martin were the only players to collect two hits in the game.

Campbellsville (12-9, 4-3 MSC) and Cumberlands (12-10, 3-4 MSC) will return to action at HIG Field Saturday for a doubleheader starting at noon.