CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — Huntington and Campbellsville both used a pair of crooked-number innings to split on the first day of a two-day four-game series at HIG Field.
The Tigers lost game one 5-1 after the Foresters scored five runs in the fifth and sixth innings combined. In game two, Campbellsville scored two runs in the first and put up a six-spot in the sixth inning to win 8-0.
Game one: Huntington 5, Campbellsville 1
The Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the second inning after a leadoff single by Hunter Christiansen. He stole second base and moved to third base on a sacrifice fly by
Riley Joyce. Starting pitcher Tanner Wyse attempted a pickoff at third base, but his throw sailed down the left field line to score the game's first run.
That was the only run Campbellsville could muster, though, and the Tigers did not take advantage of five Huntington errors. CU also fell victim to 10 strikeouts, as Wyse finished with nine and Caleb Landrum had one in relief.
CU had an opportunity in the first inning after having runners on first and second without any outs. In the bottom of the third, CU also had a pair of runners on base and Huntington fell victim to two errors but the Tigers couldn't scratch a run.
Nick Przybylek pitched very well in the circle, going four innings and allowing just one earned run while striking out four. But Campbellsville could not produce any offense to back him up.
After allowing a single to Michael Crowley to left field to start the fifth,
Jared Welander (0-1) replaced Przybylek on the hill. He picked up a pair of strikeouts but then the wheels fell off. Welander fell victim to a wild pitch and Andy Roser came off the bench with a pinch-hit double to tie the game at one.
The staff then decided to walk three-hitter Shea Beauchamp to put runners on first and second with two outs. That move didn't pay off, as Welander then walked the next batter to load the bases.
Logan Roberts then came out of left field to pitch and also walked the first batter her saw – the third straight for the CU pitching staff. Huntington took a 2-1 lead and the Tigers were unable to recover.
The sixth inning was all Huntington. Jake Hensen earned a pinch-hit single and Jamar Weaver was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second with zero outs.
Ray Fernandez came out of the pen but Dalton Combs delivered a 3-run homerun to left field on a 2-2 count to put Huntington ahead, 5-1.
CU had runners on in the sixth and seventh innings but were unable to rally.
Game two: Campbellsville 8, Huntington 0
Even after falling in game one, Campbellsville came back with a two-spot in the first inning to take control early.
David Montoya checked into the lineup and singled before
Carlos Garmendia delivered an RBI double and
Brett Hamilton scored Garmendia with an single.
Malik Evans (1-0) then shut down the Foresters by throwing six scoreless innings of three-hit ball. He also struck out six batters.
The big inning was once again in the sixth but this time it was Campbellsville's rally to put the game out of reach.
Brett Hamilton started the rally with a first-pitch solo home run to left field and the Tigers never looked back. Hamilton finished the second game going 2-for-3 with the two RBIs. Garmendia also had two hits along with
Diego Reynoso and
David Montoya.
Diego Reynoso singled and was followed with a Hunter Christiansen's bunt hit to set up an RBI-single by
Clay Valenzuela-Reece. Matt Valdez then reached on a bunt base hit to score
Shane Stober and
David Montoya walked to score another CU run. Mason Coy was the Huntington pitcher who fell victim to the six CU runs and didn't help himself with a bases-loaded balk to score another.
Freshman Andrew DeLeon put the icing on the cake with a two-RBI single down the right field line, putting the Tigers ahead 8-0.
Dillon Day pitched the final inning for CU and set the Foresters down 1-2-3.
The series continues on Saturday at 12 p.m. ET. Fans can watch on the Campbellsville University Sports Network.
