LEBANON, Tenn. — Tiger baseball was able to come away with a doubleheader split on Saturday afternoon over Cumberland University. The Phoenix stole game one of the doubleheader, 4-3 while the Tigers took game two, 3-2.
Campbellsville (30-15, 13-9 MSC) lost 2-of-3 in the series and will now wait until games are finished Sunday afternoon to find out who they will host in a first-round series next weekend in the Mid-South Conference Tournament.
Lindsey Wilson College (13-7 MSC) lead the Tigers by a game and a half in the standings after splitting with St. Catharine College today. If the Patriots can knock off the Blue Raiders tomorrow, CU and LWC will split the MSC regular season title and Campbellsville would be the No. 1 seed.
If Lindsey Wilson defeats the Patriots tomorrow, the Blue Raiders win the out-right title and No. 1 seed in the tournament.
Campbellsville had stellar pitching performances from both starting pitchers today.
Mario Morales went six innings and only allowed two runs in six innings of work, while
Nick Morehead (5-5) tossed five innings and allowed two unearned runs to pick up the win in game two.
Jake Pannunzio relieved both starters and was the loser in game one but picked up his Mid-South Conference leading 13th save in game two. Pannunzio pitched two innings in game one and allowed a game-winning two-run home run by Jarrett Plunkett. In game two, he shutdown the Phoenix, not allowing a base runner and striking out four.
Cameron Ketchen and
Nestor Linares led the Tigers by going 3-for-6. In game two,
Cody Erickson led the Tigers with a pair of hits.
Game one – Cumberland 4, Campbellsville 3 – Box Score
Ketchen looked to set the tone of how today would go with a two-run home run in the first but Phoenix starter Erik Barron found his groove and had a career day on the mound.
Linares led off the third inning with a single and
Casey Scott walked to put runners on first and second with no outs. Ketchen moved the runners with a sac bunt and
Cody Erickson singled home Linares for the third run.
After taking that 3-1 lead, Barron allowed just three more hits in the remaining six innings and struck out out a career-high 13 batters. Cumberland scored its second run in the fourth after a leadoff single to Mike Melendez. After recording two quick outs, Melendez stole second base and Hector Viera drove him in with a single to left field.
Morales gave way to Pannunzio for the seventh, seeking a three-inning save but Jarrett Plunkett turned around an 0-1 fastball for his fifth home run of the season.
Campbellsville was only able to scratch one other base runner –
Nestor Linares reached on a two-out error in the ninth but
Casey Scott lines out to centerfield to end the CU threat.
Game two – Campbellsville 3, Cumberland 2 – Box Score
The Tigers once again put a two-spot on the board in the first but this time never relinquished that lead. Linares led off the game with a walk and Scott reached on an error. For the second time today, Ketchen laid down a sac bunt to move the runner but this time it was
Riley Joyce banging a double off the left field line to score both runs.
Morehead allowed only three hits in the first four innings before Cumberland cut into the deficit in the fifth after a one-out single to center by Kyle Allen. Gabe Lares then put down a beautiful bunt and the throw to first from Scott got away. The ball rolled down the right field line and past right fielder Ketchen, allowing pinch-runner Bo Saunders to score.
Campbellsville finished with five errors in game two but Cumberland was only able to take advantage with two runs.
The Tigers answered back in the sixth, though, with Erickson leading off with a double down the leftfield line. After a groundout by Joyce,
Diego Reynoso walked and Campbellsville pinch-ran for both runners. Pinch-hitter
Mike Castellano ripped a ball over the head of Plunkett in left, but pinch-runner
Nelson Quark was standing on the bag to tag when the ball sailed over the leftfielder's head. He tried to score but was thrown out at the plate.
Pinch-hitter
Miguel Solano singled to right, loading the bases, and
Jacob Carrera singled to center, plating a run, though Castellano was thrown out at the plate by Lares trying to score a second run.
Miscues helped Cumberland make it a one-run game again in the bottom of the inning, with a two-base error by shortstop Erickson putting Ryan Dickison on base. McGrew then singled off the glove of the second baseman up the middle, plating a run, and Yorko's sac bunt and a passed ball put McGrew at third with one out.
Pannunzio struck out Melendez swinging and Plunkett fouled out to the first baseman to end the inning. CU's lefthander struck out the side in the seventh to end the contest.
Campbellsville will now travel to Brescia University for one non-conference game on Tuesday, April 26. First pitch for the regular-season finale is scheduled for 2 p.m. ET.
