CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — Needing a series sweep to take over first-place in the Mid-South Conference standings, Tiger baseball got just that this weekend. Mario Morales pitched a gem in game two and Cody Erickson delivered a walk-off single in game three to complete the sweep over Shawnee State University.

The Tigers hung on to win game two of the series, 6-4, and took game three, 2-1 in extra innings.

Campbellsville improves to 25-11 overall and is the first team to 10 wins in conference play (10-5). CU currently is one game ahead in the win column over Lindsey Wilson (9-6) and Pikeville (9-6).

Game one – Campbellsville 6, Shawnee State 4 – Box Score

CU put up a four-spot in the third and scored two more in the fifth to take a commanding 6-0 lead over the Bears. All of Campbellsville's runs in the first two games of the series (16) came with two outs.

Cameron Ketchen, Richard Ramirez and Romello Carbuccia all picked up two hits, while Ramirez led CU with two RBI.

But things got a little dicey in the later innings. Still on the mound in the eighth, Morales allowed a one-out single to Andrew Dito and Nick Rose doubled off the glove of Ketchen in right field to score a run. The very next batter – Conner Wilson – then followed suit with a double down the right field line to score another but aggressive base running cost the Bears. Wilson was thrown out on a relay throw from Miguel Solano trying to stretch a double into a triple.

Leading 6-2, the Tigers went to Irvin Ruiz out of the bullpen. After recording two quick outs, Ruiz hit a batter then allowed a single to put runners on first and second with two outs. Austin Hall then delivered a two-run double to pull Shawnee State within two, 6-4, and bring the tying run to the plate. But Ruiz calmed down and struck out Dito to end the threat.

Morales (6-3) went eight innings, allowing eight hits and two runs, while striking out a career-high 10 batters. He tossed 96 pitches through his eight innings of work.

Shawnee State's starter – Josh Eplin – wasn't able to get out of the third inning. He allowed four runs on four hits and walked three Tigers. Clay Tefft kept CU in check for the most part, tossing 5 1/3 innings in relief allowing just six hits and two runs, while striking out six.

Game two – Campbellsville 2, Shawnee State 1 – Box Score

Game three of the series was a pitchers duel but Nick Morehead and Jake Pannunzio got the better half of Brady Knittle and Brandon Bonar. The CU duo combined for eight innings, allowing just four hits and one unearned run. The Shawnee State staff allowed four hits as well but four costly errors haunted the Bears defense.

Morehead went six innings, allowed four hits and one unearned run. Pannunzio (5-0) pitched the final two innings and struck out four of the six outs recorded.

The Tigers scratched first in the fifth inning and it started with a two-out walk to Romello Carbuccia. After a Miguel Solano double, Carbuccia scored on an RBI single by Nestor Linares.

Shawnee State then took advantage of a free base in the sixth. After a one-out error by Solano at second base, Zach Freeman stole second and scored on Conner Wilson's single to center field.

CU went to Pannunzio in the seventh inning and Shawnee State missed an opportunity. After hitting the first two Bears, Pannunzio worked out of a jam with a pop out and two strikeouts.

Moving to the eighth, Linares took advantage of another leadoff error by Freeman at shortstop and moved to second base on a sac bunt by Casey Scott. After Cameron Ketchen was intentionally walked to set up the force, SSU went to close Brandon Bonar out of the pen.

Cody Erickson got behind 0-1 but turned around a fastball up the middle and Linares scored from second for the walk-off victory.  

Campbellsville has now won three-straight MSC series and is 8-1 in its last nine conference games. The Tigers will host non-conference foes Bryan College and Union College next weekend on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. First pitch versus the Lions on Tuesday is scheduled for 4 p.m. while first pitch on Wednesday against the Bulldogs is at 6 p.m.