BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Campbellsville fell behind 7-0 early on, but the Tigers rallied and scored the final 10 runs to pick a 10-7 victory against Reinhardt University to force the if necessary game.
Matthew Valdez went 3-for-5 with three RBIs for the Tigers (40-16) and
Tyson Solis drove in two more runs against the Eagles (40-18).
Needing just one win to move to the Avista-NAIA World Series, Reinhardt came out swinging with a four-run second inning and then a two-run third inning to open a wide margin on the Tigers who had just three hits in their first three at-bats.
In the second inning, Reinhardt earned a bases loaded walk and then Daniel Rodriguez hit a bases clearing double to give the Eagles a 4-0 lead. Then in the third inning, Kaleb Swayze led off the inning with a solo home run and after Reinhardt loaded bases once again a walk drove in the Eagles' sixth run of the contest. Arias got out of the inning allowing just the one run and leaving the bases juiced.
Another run came across for Reinhardt in the home half of the fifth inning with two outs after Solis misplayed a single out to right-center field allowing Abel Nunez to score from first base.
The Tigers found a little life in the top of the sixth inning after a two out dropped fly ball allowed Solis to score Campbellsville's first run of the day. The Tigers were unable to capitalize with a runner at second base following the error after
Ty Housden lined out to the end the threat.
Campbellsville continued to cut into its deficit in the seventh inning with a two-run double from Valdez with two outs, but once again the Tigers could not cash in with another two-out hit with a runner in scoring positon as the Eagles maintained a 7-3 lead.
In the eighth inning, Campbellsville tried to rally in the eighth inning as it loaded the bases with no outs. The rally was on for the Tigers with a passed ball and a balk to make it a two-run game. Wallet doubled to right field to score one run and then
Shane Stober singled to left field to tie the game and drive in Wallet from second base. The Tigers left two runners in scoring position as the scored remained tied, 7-7, heading into the ninth inning.
Neither team scored in the ninth inning to send the game into extra innings, which marked the second-straight game the Eagles were forced past nine innings.
In the 10th inning, the Tigers got back on the offensive with three runs, Valdez drove in a run with an RBI single and then Solis drove in pair with a double-down the right-field line to increase the Tiger lead to 10-7 with just three out to get.
Justin Phillips closed the door and sealed the win for the Tigers.
Campbellsville and Reinhardt are set to square off in the if necessary championship game at 2:30 p.m. CT today.
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