EASLEY, S.C. – Campbellsville's baseball team went 1-1 on its first day of pool play at the NCCAA World Series after using 12 innings to beat sixth-seeded University of St. Katherine, 5-4, but dropped a 4-3 contest to 10th-seeded Hiwassee College to round out the first day of action.
 
Pitching was the story of the day for the Tigers (41-18) where DJ Wilson tossed 5-2/3 hitless innings out of the bullpen in the first game of the day, while Nick Johnston allowed just one run in his six-inning start in game two.
 
Campbellsville 5, St. Katherine 4 (12 innings)
 
Campbellsville jumped out early on the Firebirds (34-15) with a run in the second inning after a double from Bryson Wallet plated Ty Housden – who started the inning with a double – to push the Tigers ahead, 1-0.
 
The lead did not last long for Campbellsville after St. Katherine came back and scored three runs in the bottom of the third inning. The Firebirds strung together four hits, where Austin Colvin highlighted the frame with a two-run home run. 
 
St. Katherine extended its lead in the fourth inning with a run on a RBI single from Alex Cansino to give the Firebirds a 4-1 advantage.
 
However, the Tigers did not go away after plating four runs in the top of the fifth inning to tie the game at four. Tyson Solis drove in a run with one of his three doubles on the day and just three pitches later, Logan Roberts crushed his 17th long ball of the season to knot the game, 4-4. 
 
Pitching took over in the later portion of the game, where neither team would record a hit during the next five innings to push the game into extra innings. The best chance during regulation was in the bottom of the sixth inning, where St. Katherine left the bases loaded. 
 
Campbellsville recorded a hit in the 11th inning, but left the runner stranded, while the next inning, Ty Housden drove in the eventual game-winning run with a double out to right field scoring Solis after starting the 12th inning with another double. 
 
On the day, the Tigers had nine hits with eight doubles and the Roberts home run.
 
With no hits since the fourth inning, St. Katherine notched a one-out single, but a double play ended the ball game and secured the 5-4 victory.
 
Wilson (7-1) earned the win after tossing 5-2/3 innings of relief, striking out four batters without allowing a hit or a run. Wilson allowed two base runners after hitting a pair of batters. Justin Phillips earned his second save of the season after allowing just one hit in the 12th inning to secure the victory for Campbellsville.
 
Kirby Broadbent got the start and allowed four runs on seven hits in five innings of work.
 
Tyler Dick (0-1) suffered the loss after allowing two hits and a run in 2/3 innings of work. 
 
Hiwassee 4, Campbellsville 3
 
After getting ahead early in game one, Campbellsville fell behind the eight ball in the early going against Hiwassee (32-18). Hiwassee scored a run in the in the second inning after Eric Wolfe pulled a single down the left-field line to score the first run of the contest. 
 
Campbellsville tied the game in the bottom of the third inning after it loaded the bases with no outs. Roberts grounded into a 6-4-3 double play, Jalen Horton – pinch running for Shane Stober – came into score on the play.
 
With the score tied at one, Solis continued his strong day at the plate with another RBI double to Matthew Valdez, which put Campbellsville ahead, 2-1.
 
Hiwassee hung up a crooked number in the seventh inning with three runs on four hits. The inning started with an inside the park home run to centerfield. Wolfe sent a deep fly ball to centerfield, where Solis nearly made a nice running catch, but he crashed into the wall and allowed Wolfe to circle the bases.
 
The scoring continued with two outs after Keegan Judd scored on a wild pitch from Noah Horton and then Wes Sutton scored on a double from Tyler Hisey to make it a 4-2 contest.
 
Hiwassee's two-run lead stuck until the ninth inning, where Campbellsville tried to rally. Campbellsville had two runners in scoring position with no outs after a walk and an error. DePaul Blunt singled out to centerfield to score David Montoya from third base. Jalen Horton – who pinch ran for Tyler Deason – looked to tie the game at four but he was thrown at home plate to keep Hiwassee ahead, 4-3. 
 
With Blunt standing on second base, Campbellsville was unable to drive in him in as the next two batters were retired in order and Hiwassee escaped with a 4-3 victory.
 
Noah Horton (0-1) suffered the loss after allowing three runs on four hits in 2/3 innings. Johnston got the start and allowed one run on five hits in six innings. Johnston also struck out a career-high eight batters in the no decision. 
 
Jacob Williamson (4-1) earned the win after throwing 6-1/3 innings allowing two runs on seven hits, while Quinten Crowell picked up the save in 2-2/3 innings allowing a hit and a run to seal the victory.
 
Campbellsville is back on the field at 6 p.m. ET, following the game time being shifted due to forecasted weather, on Thursday night against second-seeded Colorado Christian University at J.B. "Red" Owens Park in Easley, S.C.

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