BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Campbellsville baseball team won their ninth Mid-South Conference Tournament championship with a 7-2 victory over top-seeded University of the Cumberlands on Monday morning at Bowling Green Ballpark.
 
This is the Tigers first tournament title since 2016 and over the last four seasons, Campbellsville has won at least a share of the regular season or tournament championships. The nine tournament championships from the Tigers is the most in the Mid-South Conference.
 
The trio of Matthew Valdez, Marco Murillo and Austin Peterson notched two hits a piece with Peterson recording four of the teams five RBIs in the win.
 
Valdez got the Tigers (36-15) off to a strong with a leadoff home run out to left-center field as the Campbellsville grabbed the early 1-0 edge over the Patriots (46-9). On short rest, Tyler Deason gave the Tigers a strong start on the bump after throwing three scoreless innings. However, Anthony Arias came into start the fourth inning and only recorded one out while giving up two hits. One of the hits Arias allowed was a two-run home run from Bryan Benz to put Cumberlands ahead, 2-1, in fourth inning.
 
The Patriots continued to lead by the 2-1 score line after five-and-half innings of play, but the crooked numbers came back around for Campbellsville to regain the lead. In the home half of the sixth inning, the Tigers took advantage of Cumberlands miscues to plate three unearned runs. 
 
After an error from Reed Spata at second base, Peterson drilled a one-out single out to centerfield scoring David Montoya and Jalen Horton. Horton was able to slide just under the tag to home plate to put Campbellsville back on top 3-2. Another error allowed Valdez to reach base safely and Blunt trotted home from third base to make it 4-2 in favor of the Tigers after six innings.
 
Another odd number came up in for Campbellsville in the next inning with another three spot. This time, the Tigers scored three runs on two hits. The first run for Campbellsville came home on a wild pitch – following a passed ball – and then Peterson came up with another two RBIs after another single to right-center field. 
 
DJ Wilson came in to pitch to start the seventh inning with the Tigers leading, 4-2, and was rock solid on the mound recording three-straight 1-2-3 innings to seal the 7-2 victory for Campbellsville and win the tournament title.
 
Deason threw the first three innings allowing one hit and two walks, followed by an out from Arias. Kirby Broadbent tossed 1-2/3 innings giving up just one walk. Roberts (3-1) was credited with the victory after allowing just one hit in sixth inning, while Wilson recorded his 10th save of the season with a perfect three-inning save. Each of the five Tiger hurlers recorded at least one strikeout with Deason and Wilson recording two. 
 
Hampton Clark (4-1) suffered the loss after allowing just five runs – three earned – on just two hits in the sixth inning. Cody Spencer got the start and pitched the first five innings in the no decision allowing two runs – one earned – on five hits. 
 
With the victory, Campbellsville earns the Mid-South Conference's automatic bid into the NAIA National Championship – Opening Round.
 
The national office is set to announce its opening round groups on Thursday with the opening round starting next Monday.
 
Campbellsville heads into the national tournament with a record of 36-15 overall.

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