HENDERSON, Tenn. — The 2017 season opener is here, as No. 14 Campbellsville University travels to No. 24 Freed-Hardeman University for a three-game series this weekend.
First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET on Friday afternoon, while a doubleheader starts at noon on Saturday. Live video and stats will be provided at the links above.
The Lions are seeking to avenge a loss from last season in the NAIA Opening Round, when CU sent Freed-Hardeman home in the Savannah Bracket with a 7-2 victory.
Campbellsville enters with First-Team Mid-South Conference pitcher
Nick Przybylek on the mound Friday afternoon. Przybylek went 10-2 last season in 13 starts and finished with an ERA of 2.77.
But the Tigers have to replace seniors
Mario Morales and
Nick Morehead – both starting a combined 31 games. CU returns
Dexter Cline on the hill, who pitched in a total of 30.1 innings but started in the Mid-South Conference tournament championship game – a 10-2 win over Lindsey Wilson.
CU is expected to fill the rotation with
Malik Evans, a transfer junior RHP from Lane Community College, and
Jhonbert Gonzalez, a freshman RHP from Venezuela.
Offensively, the Tigers have to fill seven positions from last season. Returners
Romello Carbuccia and
Riley Joyce will man at least two of the positions. Joyce and
Diego Reynoso will be the catching duo to start the season, while Carbuccia can play all three outfield positions and also be moved to the infield.
Carbuccia hit .261 last season, while Joyce hit .294 with 30 RBI. Both hit two homeruns in their first season with the Tigers.
Freed-Hardeman (2-1) is coming in after winning its opening series of the year over No. 5 Georgia Gwinnett. The Lions were led by Griffin Siebert at the plate, hitting .538 in three games with seven hits in 13 at bats. Bryce Lester is hitting .500 (6-for-12) early in the season but has walked three times and has been hit by a pitch twice with a OBP of .727.
On the mound, Brandon Guske started game one vs. Georgia Gwinnett and went eight innings of seven hit baseball. He also allowed six runs – only two were earned. In game two, Riley Echols pitched 5.2 innings and allowed six earned runs. In the loss, Kyle Douglas went five innings and allowed six runs – three earned.
The Lions struggled in the field committing six errors in three games. They finished with a .958 fielding percentage last season – ranking No. 50 in the NAIA.
Campbellsville is coming off back-to-back Mid-South Conference regular season titles and its eight MSC Tournament championship.
