CLEVELAND, Tenn. – Campbellsville baseball surrendered two big innings and 15 batters struck out in a 9-2 losing effort at Lee University.

BOX SCORE

Alex Kline made his first start of the season, only going 1 2/3 innings, giving up one run on one hit, while also striking out one in his six batters faced.

Blake Bottoms relieved Kline in the second inning with one runner on first base but struggled yet again in his third appearance. The Boyle County High School product hit the first three batters he faced, and forced in Josh Tate who singled off Kline.

After an error by shortstop Ricky McColloch, the flood gates opened for Campbellsville. The runs started to pill up for Bottoms and the Tigers, as Lee University scored five in the second inning, with four of them unearned, to put Campbellsville behind the eight ball early in the matchup.

The Tigers answered in the top of the third inning, though, and scored two runs with two outs. Gentry Kinsella walked and Alex Scanlan reached on an error, putting runners on first and second. The two runners moved up a base on a wild pitch by Lee pitcher Ryan Zimmer and Campbellsville's leading hitter coming into the game, Carlos Torres picked up a single scoring both to cut into the lead, now sitting at 5-2.

Alex Watson took over on the mound in the bottom of the third inning and went a strong 4 1/3 innings, allowing only one run on six hits, while striking out five Flame batters.

Watson did his part by putting the Flames out on the offensive side, but the Tigers were not able to record a base runner or push across any runs to cut into the 5-2 lead.

Lee would pick up another run in the bottom of the sixth inning. After a single by Zacary Hawkins and a double by Blake Ray moving Hawkins 90 feet from home plate. Zach Zyburt used a little situational hitting and drove a ball deep enough in centerfield to score Hawkins from third.

Darrick Brilz, who was making his first appearance of the season, relieved Watson in the seventh inning. After recording a quick fly out, the Tigers' defense faltered yet again, as Lee would get a base runner on a Scanlan throwing error. The Flames would reach base in three consecutive at bats, scoring three runs, two of them unearned.

Brilz did pitch a 1-2-3 bottom of the eighth inning to give the Tigers a chance but CU did not record a hit in the final six frames and finished with four hits total.

Lee University shut down the Tigers offensive attack, striking out a season-high 15 batters and only allowing five base runners.

Torres led Campbellsville going 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Alex Scanlan and Jacob Russell were the only other Tigers who picked up a hit.

Watson (0-1) picked up the loss for Campbellsville. Carlos Ditren (2-0) picked up the win for Lee University.

The two teams will meet again tomorrow afternoon, with first pitch set for 3 p.m. ET. You can find a link for live stats, HERE.

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