OKLAHOMA, City — It was long ball vs. small ball and the Tigers won out today by hitting five home runs and subduing Friends University, 8-6, in the elimination bracket final of the NAIA Opening Round.
 
The Tigers will now meet undefeated Oklahoma City in a win-or-go-home matchup.
 
Campbellsville (35-20) got a couple of good pitching performances from Kirby Broadbent and Nick Johnson. Broadbent when five innings, allowing three runs and four hits. Johnson came in in the bottom of the sixth, got the last out in four-run inning for the Falcons, and went on to pitch 3 1/3 innings of three-hit ball. The two combined for 15 strikeouts.
 
Five of the runs came off three homers in the sixth when CU broke open a 2-2 game. David Montoya opened the inning with a two-run shot with Carlor Garmendia aboard. Marlor Villafina then hit a solo shot to left and Riley Joyce scored Matthew Valdez with a two-run shot of his own.
 
Friends got two of their runs without a hit in the fourth and fifth innings. Campbellsville had three errors in the game and all three led to runs.
 
Campbellsville got a run in the fourth of a Romello Carbuccia home run and another in the fifth with Villafana's second four-bagger.
 
Valdez was 3-for-5 and Villafana was 3-for-4 with two RBIs.
 
In addition to coverage of the NAIA Baseball Opening Round, CU Sports Information Assistant, and Tiger travel companion, Richard RoBards, will keep fans updated with periodic behind-the-scenes features on www.campbellsvilletigers.com and photo galleries on Facebook at Campbellsville Tigers. You can also follow the Tiger Baseball on Twitter at  @CTigersBaseball and @CvilleTigers.
 
Complete coverage of Campbellsville's trip to the NAIA Baseball Opening Round can be found on the CU Tournament Central page HERE