EASLEY, S.C. – Campbellsville held off Biola University down the stretch in final four innings of the suspended game. The Tigers earned a 9-7 victory to advance to the NCCAA World Series Championship game against Warner University at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday afternoon.
The Tigers (43-19) jumped ahead early on Friday night, before action was called on Friday. When action resumed on Saturday morning the Eagles (34-22) got out on the front with seven-straight runs, but Campbellsville's nine-run lead early was enough to earn the win and keep its season alive.
During the first act of the suspended contest between the Tigers and Eagles, Campbellsville's offense was rolling through the first five-plus innings on Friday night before the rain rolled in to suspend play.
Campbellsville posted nine runs on 10 hits as they were batting in the top of the sixth inning. A four-run third inning broke the scoreless draw and the Tigers followed with two more runs in the fourth and before the game was suspended, they scored three runs in the sixth inning all coming with one out in the inning.
In the two-run fourth inning,
Tyson Solis set the single-season hit mark with 86 as he drove in two runs to increase the Campbellsville lead. Solis now sits at 87 hits during his first year in a Tiger uniform. He surpassed former Campbellsville Tiger Enrique Lazu who recorded 85 hits during the 1999 season.
Tyler Deason was in a groove on the mound in the first five innings after allowing just two hits in his five shutout innings, where he struck out eight batters – just one shy off his career high.
Once the game resumed late on Saturday morning, Biola go on the board quickly with a two-run home run from Jacob Portaro. After throwing a stellar five innings, Deason was replaced and
DJ Wilson came into the game once the game restarted.
The Eagles got on a roll to start the action on Saturday as they scored four runs on five hits and an error in the bottom of the sixth inning to cut their deficit to 9-4.
Biola continued to stay hot offensively as it loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth inning, but Wilson got out of the jam to keep the Tigers ahead, 9-4.
River Fawley hit a solo home run in the ninth inning to make it 9-5. The Eagles continued to the threaten and loaded the bases bringing the tying run to the plate with one out.
Justin Phillips took over the bump and struck out his first batter two record the second out of the inning.
Biola did not back down with two outs as back-to-back errors brought two runs in to make it 9-7. However, Phillips out of the jam with a groundout to seal the 9-7 victory for the Tigers.
Deason's (7-4) stellar start held up for the victory, en route to Campbellsville's win over Biola.
Wilson pitched 3-1/3 innings and allowed seven runs – two earned – on 11 hits, while striking out three batters. Phillips earned his third save of the season recording the the final two outs, along with a strikeout.
Micah Beyer (7-3) suffered the loss after allowing four runs – three earned – on six hits in three innings of work to start.
Campbellsville now takes on Warner University in the NCCAA World Series Championship game at approximately 2 p.m. ET on Saturday from J.B. "Red" Owens Sports Complex.
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