EASLEY, S.C. – Campbellsville's baseball team leads Biola University, 9-0, in the sixth inning of the NCCAA World Series – Semifinals, before rain halted play and suspended action. The Tigers and Eagles will resume play on Saturday morning at 9:45 a.m. ET from J.B. "Red" Owens Sports Complex.
 
The Tigers (42-19) dropped their final pool play game in extra innings to Warner University, 7-6, just before their semifinal game. The Royals (33-25) won Pool B, but both Campbellsville and Warner advanced to the semifinals of the NCCAA World Series after the Tigers held the tiebreakers over Colorado Christian University and University of St. Katherine to move into the tournament portion of the championship.
 
Warner 7, Campbellsville 6 (9 innings)
 
In a scheduled seven-inning contest, Campbellsville rallied from four runs down to force extra innings, but the Tigers ran out of steam and lost in nine innings to the Royals.
 
Matthew Valdez got Campbellsville off to a strong start with a leadoff home run to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead. However, in the next half inning Warner countered with a two-run home run of its own to grab a 2-1 lead.
 
The back-and-forth slugfest continued with the Tigers tying the score at two after a sacrifice fly from Brandon Douglas. The long ball continued to pace the Royals with a solo home run from Cole Parks – who went 5-for-5 in the game. Kevin Troncoso followed later in the inning with a RBI double to run the Warner lead to 4-2.
 
Another home run from the Royals gave them a 6-2 lead after five innings of play.
 
Following a run in each of the first two innings, the Tiger offense went quiet before coming alive in the sixth and seventh innings. David Montoya belted a two-run home run to bring Campbellsville within two runs.
 
The offense kept rolling for the Tigers with a double from Douglas with two runners on base. On the double, Tyler Deason scored and Chris Taitague tried to get score on the play, but was thrown out at home plate with Warner leading, 6-5.
 
In the seventh inning, Montoya came up with another RBI on a double, where Tyson Solis scored on the play. Despite pitch running on the play, Jalen Horton was tagged out at the plate forcing the game into extra innings.
 
After a scoreless eighth inning, Warner plated a run in the top of the ninth inning. Campbellsville threatened in the home half of the inning, but the Tigers left the bases loaded in the 7-6 loss.
 
DJ Wilson suffered the loss in the relief after tossing 4-1/3 innings surrendering one run on six hits.
 
Kory Smith (3-1) earned the win after throwing 2-2/3 innings allowing no runs and five hits.
 
Campbellsville 9, Biola 0 (Suspended in sixth inning)
 
Despite dropping their first game of the day, the Tigers still advanced to the semifinals of the NCCAA World Series. Campbellsville came out firing on all cylinders and put up nine runs in the first five innings of the ball game. 
 
The Tigers plated four runs in the third inning with three RBI doubles pacing the way for the four runs. Then in the fourth inning Solis singled up the middle to score two more runs and on the single, he set the program record for hits in a single season with 86.
 
Campbellsville's offense continued to roll after Ty Housden and Bryson Wallet recorded back-to-back RBI singles to run the Campbellsville lead to 9-0 just before the rain came and halted play.
 
On the mound, Deason hurled a gem throwing five innings allowing just two hits and striking out eight batters.
 
The semifinal game between Campbellsville and Biola will resume at 9:45 a.m. ET on Saturday morning from J.B. "Red" Owens Sports Complex.

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