ATHENS, Tenn. – A midweek doubleheader that had the feeling of a weekend series ended with the Campbellsville baseball team losing both games on Tuesday to No. 12 Tennessee Wesleyan.
The lack of offense was the story for CU as they score only one run in the combined 16 innings of each of the two games against the Bulldogs. The Tigers only had eight hits on the day and only allowed 12 hits to TWU all day.
The Bulldogs won game one 4-1 as they two-hit the Tigers in the seven-inning affair and were able to hit two solo home runs out of Jack Bowling Field. Two more solo home runs came off the bats of Tennessee Wesleyan in their 5-1 game-two win as Jack Bowling Field played small with shallow fences and the wind blowing out.
The TWU pitching was not missing bats on the day, striking out CU batters 10 times in the two games over 52 at bats but they kept the ball down, inducing plenty of ground ball outs on the hitter friendly day. Over the two games, the Tigers grounded into four inning ending double plays, including three in game two's nine-inning game that killed potential CU rallies.
Game one starter
Anthony Arias was saddled with the loss after throwing 4.1 innings allowing four earned runs on four hits and three walks, while striking out seven.
Arias allowed a couple of two-out runs to score after a two-out walk to Adrian Marquez before Shamoy Christopher banged a double off the center field wall. Christopher's courtesy runner, Malik Stephens was then able to later score from third on a first-pitch single from third baseman Max Draijer.
Malcom Grady was the second CU relief pitcher in game two as he entered after
Brenden Nipp loaded the bases with two outs in the fifth before Grady came in an struck out Marquez the get out of the jam. Grady continued to pitch the sixth inning where he struck out the side, stranding another runner on third to keep the score at 4-1.
In game two,
Eric Little took to the bump for Campbellsville to start but only went 2.1 innings giving up two earned runs on solo home runs.
Tyler Deason came in to relieve Little as Deason had a nice bounce back performance going 2.2 shutout innings.
After
Jesse Davis and
Parker Loutensock gave up a pair of runs in their combined inning of work,
Gage O'Brien finished the day for the Tigers on the mound with two hitless and scoreless innings.
CU will head back home now to get ready for their first home series of the season as they host Siena Heights University for a three-game set starting on Saturday. Saturday will have a doubleheader starting at noon with Sunday's single game scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. ET.
