CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky.: The Tigers hosted the Saints of Thomas More in a doubleheader Friday afternoon. After losing yesterday's game, Campbellsville seizes the series by winning Friday's contests.
GAME ONE: Campbellsville 3, Thomas More 2
Starting the first inning, Zane Morrison was on the mound for the Tigers, ready to face the Thomas More bats. The Saints saw their first run before the third out and totaled two hits as it was time for Campbellsville to get their bats going. Closing out the first inning, the Tiger's leadoff, Henry Wright, singled to center field. After a wild pitch, and Chad McCann being walked, Wright was in scoring position, but the third out came before Wright could score. Campbellsville left one on base and totaled one hit.
Campbellsville's defense made the top of the second a quick one as they faced three batters that were the three outs. Looking to get the bats going for the Tigers, Grant McQueary leads off with a single to third base. McQueary found himself in scoring position after Kale Seitz doubled down the left-field line. Josh Napier then had a fielded-out RBI and brought McQueary home, giving the Tigers their first run. Up next, Lucas Banta brought Seitz home with another fielded-out RBI giving Campbellsville a one-run lead.
In the top of the fifth frame, Thomas More tied up the score at two runs each after they had a batter come home and the Tigers committed an error. Before the third out, Garrett Maloney came onto the mound for Morrison. The Tigers found relief as they acquired the third out. The sixth inning saw no result for either team. The seventh inning was short, as both teams went three up and three down. The eighth inning was similar.
In the final inning, the Saints were able to total two more hits but, once again, saw no runs. In the bottom of the ninth inning, the Tigers score the winning run. This run came after McCann made it to first base after being hit by pitch. Then Gonzalez hit a double RBI and brought McCann home for the game's final play.
Campbellsville went 2-1 (2.000) with runners on base and less than two outs on the board. Their leadoff batters also went 4-9 (.444) as the Saint's leadoffs went 3-9 (.333). The pitchers for the Tigers only threw 105 pitches as the Saints threw 138, and Campbellsville had a slightly higher strike percentage, throwing .676 compared to Thomas More's .630.
GAME TWO: Campbellsville 14, Thomas More 2
PJ Ledesma stepped onto the mound to pitch for the Tigers. Ledesma struggled as he walked the first two Saints. However, Ledesmas found his groove and struck out the next batter. Moments later, runners stood on second and third. Thomas More racked an RBI single, but Grant McQueary threw the ball in from right field to Lucas Banta. On a perfect throw, Banta tagged out the runner, and Campbellsville returned to the dugout. At the plate, Campbellsville swiftly suffered two outs. After McCann walked, J. Gonzalez singled up the middle. Amenta placed the ball right over the second baseman to bat in McCann.
The second inning was quiet, and action picked back up into the third inning. As it was Campbellsville's turn up to bat, the Tigers made contact with the ball. Mael Zan singled with a hit to left to start for the Tigers. However, the following two batters flew out to the right-fielder in consecutive at-bats. Amenta collected his second RBI of the contest as he scored Zan.
The Saints applied pressure onto the Tigers in the top of the fourth inning. Kacey Cheek entered the contest to relieve Ledesma. As Campbellsville amassed two outs, the bases loaded up from a couple of walks and an error. Cheek finalized the last out as he fashioned a strikeout. In the Tigers' time in the batter's box, Kale Sietz started with a double through the right side. The Saints walked the following two batters to leave the bases loaded. Henry Wright found a gap between left and center field to exchange his hit for a three-run RBI.
Campbellsville returned with offensive strength in the fifth inning. J. Gonzalez and Amenta trotted to first base on walks. Thomas More ensured the Tigers wouldn't add another run as they acquired two force out at home. Campbellsville sat at a two-out deficit when Banta singled to center field for a two-run RBI. Moments later, Wright also poised a double to right center for a two-run RBI.
Thomas More remained in a scoring drought through the rest of the contest. However, Campbellsville experienced the opposite. As runners stood on the corners, an error by the Saints allowed Josiah Clark to score. Two more RBIs were added to the Tigers' stats when Thomas More began to walk Campbellsville batters. Zan tacked on two additional runs as he composed a double. The Tigers returned to defense, looking to hold the Saints.
Thomas More strung a couple of singles and a walk to load up the bases. Campbellsville allowed a run to score on a fielder's choice but shut out the final batter. The Tigers took their revenge on day two of the series as they knocked out the Saints 14-2.
Campbellsville displayed their strength in the batter's box in the final contest. At the plate, Campbellsville poised a .500 with two outs. With runners in scoring position, the Tigers finished with a .353, whereas Thomas More finalized a .125 while batters were in scoring position. Amenta batted 1.000 in his three at-bats as well as accumulating two RBIs. Wright finished with six RBIs and a .500 at the plate. Several other batters finished with a .500 at the plate, including Zan (2 RBI), Sietz, and Banta (3 RBI).
The Tigers will return to the field on Tuesday, February 28th. Campbellsville will host Midway University at 2 p.m. ET.
