CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – Two very different games but two similar outcomes, Tiger baseball ousts Shawnee State University with a pair of wins in the Mid-South Conference Opening Round Tournament.
The Tigers knocked off the Bears 14-0 in a seven-inning affair then erased a seven-run deficit in game two to come from behind and win 13-9 ending Shawnee State's season. No. 20 Campbellsville (33-15) advances to the Mid-South Conference Tournament final site next week, Friday-Sunday, May 6-8 at Bowling Green Ball Park in Bowling Green, Ky.
The fireworks seemed to come in game one with a 17-hit performance but Campbellsville point the exclamation point on the day in the second game. Trailing 9-2, Campbellsville scored eight seventh-inning runs with the big blow coming off the bat from Nestor Linares – his first collegiate grand slam – to put the Tigers ahead for the first time in game two, 10-9.
Game one – Campbellsville 14, Shawnee State 0 – Box Score
The Tigers put together 17 hits and scored all 14 runs in the second, third and fourth innings. Nestor Linares and Casey Scott led the Tigers with three hits and three RBI a piece, while Riley Joyce had three hits and two runs batted in. Richard Ramirez, Romello Carbuccia and Diego Reynoso added a pair of hits and two RBI.
Joyce led the offensive excitement with a home run, triple and double. He was missing the easiest of the cycle-hits but Mitchell Lendenski stole a base hit away in the seventh inning on a sinking liner to centerfield.
Mario Morales (7-4) and Justin Phillips combined for the seven-inning shutout allowing only five hits and one walk while striking out six.
For the second time this season, the Tigers sent former MSC Freshman and Pitcher of the Year Derek Moore to the showers early. CU scratched eight hits and nine runs in 2.1 innings of work for Moore (6-5) before giving way to Joe Loyd. Tyler Arthur and James West also saw time on the mound for Shawnee State.
Game two – Campbellsville 13, Shawnee State 9 – Box Score
It was a tale of two games for the first six-plus innings of the second contest. Shawnee State put it to the Tigers, taking a 7-2 advantage led with a three spot in the fourth and a pair of runs in each of the fifth and sixth innings.
Brady Knittle shutdown Campbellsville in the first six innings but Coach Chris Moore decided to take a risk and leave the tiring Knittle in after tossing 93 pitches in six innings.
In the opposite dugout, the Tigers stayed true to the process and came alive in the seventh. Casey Scott drew a leadoff walk and Cameron Ketchen drilled a missile down the left field line for an RBI triple starting the rally. Cody Erickson followed with a sac fly pulling CU within five runs, 9-4.
Riley Joyce singled and Brandon Bonar replaced Knittle on the hill but the Tigers kept the pedal to the floor. Miguel Solano singled and then Richard Ramirez doubled off the left field fence to score a pair of runs. Romello Carbuccia followed with an RBI single forcing Coach Moore to go to his third pitcher – Mike Watson – in the seventh inning.
The first batter Watson faced, Diego Reynoso, he walked and put ducks on the pond for Linares. He delivered the first-pitch fast ball over the left-center field fence igniting the Tigers ahead, 10-9.
Josh Eplin came on for the eighth inning but CU plated three insurance runs and that was all closer Jake Pannunzio needed for his Mid-South Conference leading 14th save of the season.
Nick Przybylek started on the mound for CU but allowed five runs in four innings. Justin Phillips, Ryan Norrix and Casey Congleton all saw action on the hill until Dexter Cline (4-0) came in at the right time. He tossed 2.2 innings and sat down all seven batters he faced to pick up the victory.
Linares once again led the charge with three hits and five RBI in game two. Erickson, Joyce and Ramirez all had a pair of hits with Ramirez drove in two runs.
 The Tigers will head to the final site of the MSC Tournament and all four teams will be re-seeded after the completion of the opening round games. More information will be released on Monday, May 2.
Â
