CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky.- Following the Tigers' series victory against their rival Tigers from Georgetown College, Campbellsville sought to preserve momentum on Wednesday against the University of Pikeville Bears. Campbellsville took the win over Pikeville with a 10-run advantage, 15-5.
The Bears opened the first inning with three back-to-back hits. Pikeville closed the top of the first with three runs under their belt. Chad McCann and Jorge Gonzalez each collected a single, unable to reach home before the end of the inning.
The Bears were quickly put away in three up, three down fashion during the top of the second. Yosuke Fujie doubled down the right field line, followed by Jonah Bachiu earning a base via walk. They both made it across the plate as Henry Wright tripled. Amayas Lamar doubled down the left field line, resulting in Wright scoring another run and tying the game at three. J. Gonzalez and McCann each got a hit, bringing in two more runs that put Campbellsville in the lead at the end of the second inning.
Pikeville scored the game's first home run to left center, coming within a run from the Tigers. Lorenzo Gonzalez opened the Tigers' portion of the third with a single up the middle. However, neither team managed to score during the third.
Within the first few minutes of the fourth inning, the Bears collected their first two outs. They struck back with two singles before the end of the top of the fourth was recorded. J. Gonzalez and McCann each earned a free base. Mael Zan collected another single with a bunt, bringing Campbellsville to load their bases. Trent Buchanan singled to right center, bringing Gonzalez across the dish and leaving the Tigers' bases loaded once again. Bachiu singled to shortstop, bringing in another run. for Campbellsville as the end of the fourth inning approached.
Although Pikeville reached base via walk in the opening of the fifth, they were swiftly put away, unable to score. Buchanan singled to left field, bringing Lamar across the plate. L. Gonzalez scored the first Tiger home run of the game, resulting in three runs for Campbellsville and putting the Tigers at a seven-run advantage over the Bears.
Pikeville singled to left center and left field; however, they finished at the top of the sixth with both batters left on base. Campbellsville was quickly put away in three up, three down style during their share of the inning.
In the opening of the seventh, the Bears scored their first run since the top of the third as a Pikeville batter flew out to left field, bringing another fellow batter to score on the throw. The bottom of the seventh was highlighted by Zan scoring another run for the Tigers on a wild pitch.
During the top of the eighth, the Bears were put away in three up, three down style. Bret Bowers doubled to left center, followed by Wright earning a free base. Shortly after, Bowers and Wright made it across the dish. Lucas Banta followed in his fellow Tigers' footsteps, scoring another run to end the game in a Campbellsville victory.
At the end of the game, L. Gonzalez led the Tigers with three RBIs and McCann with three hits. Logan MacNiel, Ian Roemer, and Ryan McFarland worked together, striking out six Bear batters. Campbellsville surpassed Pikeville in multiple statistical categories: at-bats (43-34), doubles (3-1), triples (2-0), RBIs (13-5), and OPS (1.097-.780).
The Tigers will be back in action traveling to Columbia, Kentucky, to battle the Lindsey Wilson College Blue Raiders on Friday, April 19th, beginning at 4 p.m. ET.
