HENDERSON, Tenn. – The Campbellsville University baseball team continued their three-game venture in Henderson, Tennessee to take on (RV) Freed-Hardeman in a double-header on Saturday afternoon. The Tigers fell to the Lions in game one but came back to shut them out in game two.
Game One: Campbellsville 0, Freed-Hardeman 4
The Tigers didn't wait around to get their bats connecting. Kevin Whitaker hit a single to shortstop giving him the first hit of the ball game. The Tigers struck directly to the fielders for the first three outs of the ball game leaving Whitaker on base. Then, in the second inning, Jacob White singled to right field but was left on base too.
During the third inning, the Lions scored the first few runs taking an early two-run lead over the Tigers. In the top of the fourth inning, Logan Verble reached base via walk. Chad McCann reached on a fielder's choice and Cameron Castaneda was given free bases, but the Tigers couldn't capitalize with runners on. Mason Lee came in to relieve Caleb Thompson on the mound in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Lions took a 4-0 lead after two more runners found their way around the bases.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Joseph Ranford came in to pitch for Lee. During the seventh inning, Cameron Castaneda was given free bases via walk. Alex Castaneda came in to pinch hit and did exactly what he was supposed to do. Alex Castaneda sent a pitch to center field, good enough for a single and advancing Cameron Castaneda, but it wasn't enough. The Tigers fell to the Lions of Freed-Hardeman, 4-0.
The Tigers had a total of three hits, each belonging to a different player: A. Castaneda, Whitaker, and White. Thompson, Lee, and Ranford had a combined total of 89 pitches thrown. With 55 of the 89 pitches being strikes, giving them a .618 strike percentage.
Game Two: Campbellsville 3, Freed-Hardeman 0
Noah Amenta was the first Tiger to reach base after being hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Amenta was left stranded at second to end the top half of the first inning. During the second inning, Grant McQueary, in his first appearance in the series, sent a pitch over the fence for the first run in the ball game. Josiah Clark hit a pitch to center field, good enough for a single but was left on base. Following that, a quick three up, three down inning kept the Tigers in the lead.
With two balls, two strikes, and two outs, Amenta sent a pitch out to right center giving himself a single. Eddy Arteaga singled to right field advancing Amenta into scoring position. Sam Fagerness came in to pinch run for Arteaga. Unfortunately, both Amenta and Fagerness were left on base.
In the top of the fourth inning, Kye Seitz reached base via walk. Clark sent one out to center field which was good enough for a single and advanced Kye Seitz to second. Kale Seitz laid down a sacrifice bunt and advanced both Kye Seitz and Clark into scoring position. Alex Castaneda sent a pitch out to center field scoring Kye Seitz and giving himself a sacrifice RBI. The Tigers went into the bottom of the fourth inning with a two-run lead.
During the fifth inning, Samio Uze landed himself a single after hitting a hard, infield grounder to second base. On a wild pitch, Uze advanced to second base. Amenta grounded out to the shortstop advancing Uze into scoring position at third base. Arteaga sent a pitch out to right field, good enough for a sacrifice RBI to score Uze. This gave the Tigers a 3-0 lead over the Lions. At that point, Joshua Lambert came in to relieve Ryan McFarland on the mound.
In the top of the eighth inning, Arteaga was walked to reach base. Fagerness came in to pinch run for Arteaga. McQueary grounded out to the pitcher advancing Fagerness into scoring position. Jeremiah Lebron came in to pinch hit and reached base on catcher interference. Lebron then stole second base. The Tigers couldn't capitalize as they left Fagerness and Lebron in scoring position.
In the top of the ninth inning, Uze reached base via walk but was caught stealing for the third out of the inning. With two outs and a runner on third base, the Lions couldn't catch back up to the Tigers. The Tigers grabbed the win over the Lions of Freed-Hardeman, 3-0.
The Tigers had six hits in game two, Clark leading with two. McFarland and Lambert threw a combined total of 108 pitches. They had a .685 strike percentage with 74 of the 108 pitches being strikes.
The Tigers will be back in action on Tuesday to take on Union College in Barbourville, Kentucky. The game is set to begin at 2 p.m. ET.
