CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky.- The Tigers battled the Cumberland University Phoenix to finish their three-game series this weekend. The Tigers finished their three-game series against the Phoenix with two victories.
GAME ONE: Campbellsville 11, Cumberland 7
The Phoenix were first on the scoreboard with a two-RBI through the right side. Chad McCann opened the bottom of the first, tying the score with a two-run home run. Mael Zan, Jonah Bachiu, Yosuke Fujie, Amayas Lamar, and Jorge Gonzalez all collected hits, bringing in run after run and putting Cumberland down with a six-point deficit at the end of the first inning.
Cumberland began the second inning with three hits. The Phoenix filed out to center field, scoring a run in their favor on the throw. Although Trent Buchanan singled through the left side, he did not make it to the plate before the end of the second.
The Phoenix earned a free base at the top of the second; however, they were unable to reach home before the end of their portion of the inning was recorded. McCann singled up the middle during Campbellsville's share of the third, bringing Lamar across the plate.
The fourth inning began with the first home run for Cumberland, resulting in three runs for the Phoenix. The Tigers' bottom of the fourth was short-lived, quickly being put away in a three up, three down fashion.
The fifth inning began with a single to left field from Cumberland, coming within a couple of points from Campbellsville. The Tigers collected a hit during the bottom of the fifth, but the end of the inning came before they managed to score.
The Phoenix were swiftly put away in three up, three down style at the beginning of the top of the sixth. Buchanan singled, bringing McCann across the plate. Zan followed shortly after, doubling down the left field line and bringing Shoki Fukui home.
Buchanan led the Tigers with three hits and McCann and Zan with three RBIs each. Zane Morrison, PJ Ledesma, and Mason Lee worked together to strike out five Phoenix batters. Campbellsville surpassed Cumberland in a few statistical categories: hits (15-9), RBI (11-7), put outs (21-18), and OPS (1.259-.826).
GAME TWO: Campbellsville 8, Cumberland 2
In the opening of the first inning, the Phoenix struck out swinging, with Tristin Crusenberry pitching for the Tigers. McCann began the bottom of the first singling up the middle with a two-RBI, bringing Gonzalez and Lamar across the dish.
Campbellsville swiftly put away Cumberland in three up, three down style in the opening of the third inning. Buchanan singled through the left side during the Tigers' share of the third, bringing Gonzalez to score another run.
The Phoenix scored their first two runs of the game during the bottom of the fourth, with a single through the left side and a passed ball. Campbellsville only continued to widen their advantage as Lamar flew out to left field, with Fujie scoring on the throw.
Cumberland once again was put away in a three up, three down fashion to begin the fifth inning. Henry Wright singled to left field, collecting his first RBI of the game and bringing McCann home. Neither team managed to score during the sixth and seventh innings, struggling to make it to first base.
Fujie tripled to left field during the bottom of the eighth, resulting in another run for the Tigers. Campbellsville loaded their bases and followed with Fujie and Lamar crossing home, amplifying the Tigers' lead to six runs over the Phoenix. Campbellsville closed the game putting Cumberland away in three up, three down fashion during the top of the ninth inning.
At the end of the game, McCann led the Tigers with three hits, followed by Gonzalez with two. McCann also led with three RBIs. Campbellsville's pitchers worked together striking out 20 Phoenix batters: Crusenberry leading with 13 strikeouts, followed by Aaron Hammer and Ryan McFarland with three each, and Logan MacNiel with one. The Tigers outperformed Cumberland in a few statistical aspects of the game: hits (9-5), RBI (8-1), and put outs (27-24).
The Tigers will be back in action, taking the road to Midway, Kentucky, on Tuesday, March 26th, to battle the Midway University Eagles beginning at 3 p.m. ET.
