SAVANNAH, Ga. — Campbellsville was unable to provide any offense and was upset by Point University, 2-1, in the NAIA Baseball Opening Round Championship at Grayson Stadium.
The Tigers came to their final at-bat and Cody Erickson gave CU life with a leadoff double down the left field line. After Riley Joyce moved him to third base, the Tigers had their hottest hitters coming to the plate but Miguel Solano grounded out and Richard Ramirez lined out to right field to end the game.
Point is the first five-seed to ever advance to the NAIA World Series since the Opening Round originated in 2009.
Campbellsville was only able to muster five hits with its only run coming in the first inning. Erickson started the rally with a two-out single and Joyce drove him in with an RBI double.
Erickson led CU with two hits, while Joyce, Ramirez and Jacob Carrera all had hits.
After CU struck first, Point answered with a run of its own. Jay Bryce singled to start the inning and moved to second on a sac bunt by Omar Smith. Riliani Familia popped up down the right field line but Carrera dropped the ball and allowed Bryce to move to third. He later came around to score on a ground out by Anthony Pardon.
In the third, Smith started the rally with a one-out single and stole second base to get into scoring position. He came around to score on a Familia single.
That was all the runs Point would need. Payne Kosobucki started on the hill for Point but Dylan Griffin (9-2) shined in relief for the second appearance against Campbellsville. Griffin pitched five innings, allowing only two hits and striking out three. In the 12 innings he tossed against Campbellsville, he struck out 12 batters and did not allow a run.
Nelson Quark (2-3) started on the mound and went four innings, allowing five hits and one earned run. Nick Morehead – who started last night in the final game – also went four innings and allowed three hits.
Campbellsville will now have a decision if it will accept a bid to the NCCAA National Championship in Mason, Ohio. The Tigers fall to 39-18 overall and Point moves to 35-29.
