CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – It took 12 innings to determine a winner in the Mid-South Conference series opener between Campbellsville University and Cumberland University Thursday afternoon as the Tigers came out on top 3-2.
Senior
Chris Taitague had the big swing of the bat in the 12
th with the bases loaded and two outs as he took a 1-0 pitch deep to left out of the reach of the left fielder for the game winning single.
Campbellsville loaded the bases in the 12
th after
Adbiel Morales was hit by a pitch to lead off, then
Tyler Deason was intentionally walked after a sacrifice bunt and
Tommy Sepulveda drew a two-out walk.
It was the third time the Tigers scored with two outs as their previous two runs were scored with two-out hits. In the eighth inning, Sepulveda drove a ball to right field to knock in
Lane Kashiwamura from third and in the ninth, with the Tigers down to their final strike, Morales line a single to left to score
Donnel Bailey from second to tie the game at 2-2.
It was a tough day for hitters with a stiff wind blowing in from left field for most of the game but the two teams still combined for 24 hits over the 12 innings. Cumberland got on the board first in the fourth inning on an RBI ground out from Peyton Wheatley with runners on second and third and one out.
That score held and Campbellsville tried to tie it in the seventh inning after
Jack Bauer singled to left, Taitague tried to score from second but was thrown out at the plate by Eddie McDaniels, the left fielder on a close play at the plate.
The Phoenix added to their lead with an unearned run in the next half inning after
Marco Murillo looked to have himself pitched out of a first and third, no out jam. Murillo helped turn a 1-6-3 double play while keeping the runner at third but on a swinging bunt from Kyle Blackwell, Murillo's throw to first went wide allowing the run to score but that was all they would get in the eighth to keep the score at 2-0.
Outside of that error in the eighth, Murillo had an outstanding relief appearance on the mound for the Tigers. The senior went sixth innings out of the bullpen, entering the game in the seventh and pitching through the 12
th, allowing the unearned run on six hits with one walk.
Campbellsville was fortunate to get through the game only using three pitchers as starter
Malcom Grady had to be removed from the game after two innings due to injury. Grady was struck by a line drive in his right forearm in the second and he was able to finish the inning but was in considerable pain.
Eric Little entered in the third inning and threw four innings allowing a single run on four hits with a walk and one strikeout. The defense was outstanding for the Tigers all game with the Campbellsville pitchers on striking out the two batters that Little retired on the swing and miss.
The Tigers turned three double plays, all with Murillo on the mound and two in extra innings to put away any momentum that the Phoenix would try to acquire in the extra frames.
These two teams will get back to action tomorrow afternoon for the final two games of the series. The doubleheader is scheduled to start at 3:00 p.m. ET with the nine-inning game taking place first followed by a seven-inning affair at HIG Field.
