CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – The Campbellsville University baseball team hosted the Thomas More Saints at H.I.G. Baseball Field Sunday afternoon. The Tigers dropped the first two match-ups in a scheduled series against the Saints. 
 
Game one: Campbellsville 4, Thomas More 6
 
Zion Payne started on the mound for the Tigers and earned a swinging K in a 3-2 count to begin the game. The next two batters stepped up to the plate and took their place on the base pads after a Tiger error and a walk. Payne collected another strikeout in the first inning adding to his previous 32 total strikeouts on the year. Campbellsville closed the Saints' time at the plate with a force out at second base. The Tigers' offense was non-responsive on the return. 
 
Thomas More had runners set on second and first with one out. As the batter squared around to bunt, the runner on second went to steal. Lorenzo Gonzalez earned a put-out as his throw reached the bag before the runner. The Saints could not cultivate their hits into runs. The first two Tiger batters were put away quickly, but Jacob White ripped one to center field for Campbellsville's first hit. However, nothing came of the hit as the inning closed.
 
Noah Amenta made a diving play on the third base line to throw across the field for the out at first. With one out, the Saints piled runners on the corner bases. Payne put away the batter with a strikeout. However, he nailed the next batter creating a bases-loaded scenario. The Tigers forced a Saints batter into a ground out at shortstop. Chad McCann was first at bat for the Tigers and took first base from a walk. Lorenzo Gonzalez sacrificed his at bat with a bunt to move McCann around the diamond. As McCann stood on second, Jorge Gonzalez earned a walk and McCann advanced to third. Amenta broke open the scoring as his RBI single scored the runner on third base. 
 
After a scoreless fourth inning, the Saints loaded up the bases with three singles. A passed ball allowed Thomas More to even the score at one run apiece. With runners in scoring position, a single to right center earned the Saints a two-run RBI. A throwing error from the outfield allowed the runner to reach third and a passed ball on the fielder's choice from the Tigers' catcher allowed Thomas More to gain another run. Campbellsville capped the Saints' opportunities at the plate with another strikeout. Samio Uze reached first on a leadoff bunt down the third base line. Jorge Gonzalez attained a double with his line drive down third base and Amenta followed as he was hit by pitch which led to the Tigers having bases loaded. Cameron Castaneda collected an RBI that scored Jorge Gonzalez and Uze. The Tigers trailed the Saints by one run with two outs. White ripped a pitch up the middle to score the tying run at four. 
 
Joseph Ranford came in to pitch for Payne. He started off slow with two walks which led to an RBI for Thomas More as the Saints forced the Tigers to make the out at first. The Tigers were put away three-up and three-down. In the final inning, Thomas More pushed their lead out to two runs with pitching led by Mason Lee. Campbellsville was unable to return the energy and dropped the first game 6-4. 
 
White led his team by finishing with a .667 percent at the plate while McCann followed close by with a .500 percent. Campbellsville were slightly out-pitched by the Saints. The Tigers finished with a .625 compared to Thomas More's .629 strike percentage. 
 
Game two: Campbellsville 0, Thomas More 11
 
In the first inning, Alexander Salazar tallied up a few wild pitches that allowed Thomas More to score first. Salazar accumulated back-to-back strikeouts to answer this deficit. The Tigers put away the Saints with a ground out to second. Campbellsville were quickly shut down with their first three at bats. 
 
The Saints quickly fostered themselves into scoring position and an RBI single scored another run for Thomas More. The Tigers defense tightened to leave two Saint runners stranded. White trotted to first base after being hit by pitch. White was then caught stealing though which left Logan Verble at the plate with two outs. Campbellsville returned to the field with no runs to combat the Saints. 
 
Both teams suffered a scoreless third inning. Ryan McFarland came in to relieve Salazar in the fourth. Thomas More acquired two singles toward left center field. A few more singles earned a run for Thomas More, who then led 5-0. The damage against the Tigers continued and the Saints added three more runs to their score. Campbellsville responded with a double down the line from White. The next two batters followed White with backwards Ks and the Tigers were unable to bounce back.
 
Jackson Izatt came in to pitch for McFarland in the top of the fifth. Pitching from Izatt allowed a double to left, but then put away the next two batters. The Saints collected a homerun over the left field wall for a two-run RBI. On the return, the Tigers could not gain ground toward the tie score. 
 
With one out in the seventh inning, Thomas More scored a run and still had runners in position to send more home. Campbellsville finished the half inning with a high fly ball. The Tigers approached the plate with the intent to close the gap to avoid the run-rule. Smart base-running got Belcher to second, but the Tigers were unable to make a dent in their deficit. 
 
The Tigers fell short to the Saints in strike percentage with a .629 percent compared to the .631 percent of Thomas More. Uze, Jorge Gonzalez, and White each tallied a .500 at the plate. Campbellsville faced a total of 41 batters in comparison to the Saints' pitcher facing 29 of the Tigers. 
 
The Tigers will reappear Monday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. ET. Campbellsville will end their home series against Thomas More at H.I.G Baseball Field.