TALLADEGA, Ala.- The Tigers traveled to Alabama to battle the Talladega College Tornadoes in a doubleheader on Sunday. Campbellsville finished today's doubleheader with one win and one loss against Talladega.
GAME ONE: Campbellsville 9, Talladega 4
Amayas Lamar opened the game with a single to center field. Jorge Gonzalez followed shortly after earning a free base. Kale Seitz stepped up to the plate, delivering a hit that sent Lamar across the plate. Mael Zan followed, driving a deep fly ball to left field and sacrificing his at-bat to bring J. Gonzalez into home. Seitz did not take too long to follow his fellow Tigers over the dish, scoring another run. After a wild pitch from Talladega, Yosuke Fujie seized the opportunity to run for home. Henry Wright and Bret Bowers scored two more runs with precision hits from their teammates, expanding Campbellsville's lead to 7-0 over the Tornadoes. During their share of the first, Talladega did not score, collecting two hits and leaving two batters on base before being put away.
The Tigers' top of the third was highlighted by Wright and Lamar, who continued to widen Campbellsville's advantage with two more runs in their favor. The Tornadoes retaliated with a two-RBI, putting themselves on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third.
Talladega finished the fourth inning after collecting two hits and loading their bases, but they were unable to reach the plate and score any runs. Jonah Bachiu, Bowers, and Fujie loaded the Tigers' bases during the bottom of the sixth; however, they did not make it home before switching sides with the Tornadoes.
Keith and Zan singled to open the seventh inning. However, Campbellsville was unable to capitalize off their hits before the end of the top of the seventh. Another run highlighted Talladega's portion of the seventh; however, it was not enough to catch up with the Tigers before the end of the game.
Seitz led the Tigers with three hits, followed by Lamar, J. Gonzalez, and Wright with two each. Lamar also collected two RBIs during the game. Garrett Maloney and Logan MacNiel worked together to strike out eight Tornado batters. Campbellsville surpassed Talladega in a few statistical categories: hits (12-9), RBI (7-4), and OPS (1.020-.842).
GAME TWO: Campbellsville 3, Talladega 10
The Tigers made it to the scoreboard during the top of the first inning, as Seitz doubled to right center resulting in J. Gonzalez scoring the first run of the game. The Tornadoes struck back with two runs of their own in the bottom of the first.
Campbellsville's top of the second inning began with two hits by Bowers and Bachiu. Chad McCann followed by doubling down the left field, resulting in another run for the Tigers, tying the score at two. Talladega scored another run in the bottom of the second, stealing the upper hand back.
McCann and J. Gonzalez were hit by pitches but could not reach home at the end of the top of the fourth. The Tornadoes, however, capitalized off their hits in the bottom of the fourth, increasing Campbellsville's deficit on the scoreboard.
The Tigers struck back as Trent Buchanan stepped up to the plate and doubled to left field, bringing Wright across the dish. Although Talladega collected two hits and finished the fifth inning with two batters left on base, they could not score.
Throughout the sixth inning, the Tornadoes significantly increased their advantage over Campbellsville. They collected five runs and six hits, although two of Talladega's batters were, their share of the inning was over before crossing the plate.
The Tigers scoring halt continued throughout the rest of the game, collecting a handful of hits but none resulting in any runs.
At the end of the game, McCann led Campbellsville with three hits, followed by Wright with two. Additionally, Buchanan, Seitz, and McCann each collected an RBI. Zane Morrison, PJ Ledesma, and McCann worked together to strike out nine Tornado batters. The Tigers outperformed Talladega in a few statistical aspects of the game: doubles (5-3), earned runs (8-3), and assists (12-9).
The Tigers will be back in action tomorrow, Monday, March 11th, on their second day in Alabama to close the series against the Talladega College Tornadoes beginning at 1 p.m. ET.