CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — Culver Stockton scored five runs in the first inning and that's all the Wildcats needed on Sunday afternoon to sweep the Tigers, 5-4.
Dexter Cline (1-1) allowed five hits and four earned runs in the first to earn the loss, while the Wildcats Luis Vilchez (1-2) went a strong eight innings and allowed four runs, while striking out six for Culver Stockton. Tyler Smith (1) came in to earn the save, allowing one hit and striking out one in the ninth.
David Montoya,
Clay Valenzuela-Reece,
Brett Hamilton and
Diego Reynoso all compiled two hits apiece while
Marlor Villafana went 3-for-4. Campbellsville scattered 13 hits compared to nine for Culver Stockton (9-5).
The Wildcats plated all five runs in the first inning, after a Brandon Cotter singled to lead off the game. Jhonathan Mendoza doubled to score Cotter and was followed with a single by Alex Satunas to put runners on the corners with one out. After one of CU's two errors, the Wildcats scratched three more runs on two hits to go ahead, 5-0.
But like coach
Beauford Sanders preaches day in and day out, you have to answer big innings by opponents with a few runs yourself and that's exactly what the Tigers did. Campbellsville answered with two runs in the bottom of the first after Valenzuela-Reece and Carbuccia both singled with one away to set up a Reynoso two-RBI double.
That's all the runs either team would score until CU plated one run in the eight and another in the ninth.
Hamilton led off the eighth with a double and was followed with a Reynoso single to put runners on the corners without any outs.
Matthew Valdez grounded to shortstop but beat out the double play attempt to score Hamilton on a fielder's choice.
In the ninth, Culver Stockton went to Smith out of the bullpen and CU had the game-winning run at the plate twice. Villafana singled to start the inning and Carbuccia reached on an error to bring Hamilton – the first game-winning run to the plate. He singled in Villafana to pull the Tigers within one run, 5-4, but Reynoso grounded out to second to end the game.
The Tigers will now have one final tune up on Tuesday, March 7 vs. Missouri Baptist University, before entering Mid-South Conference play. The doubleheader is slated to start at 1 p.m. ET vs. MBU. CU will also host Cumberland University on Friday and Saturday, March 10-11 to cap off the nine-game home stand.
