CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – The Campbellsville Tigers hosted the Bethel Wildcats on Friday afternoon. In the doubleheader match-up, the Tigers ended the day with one victory and one loss.
GAME ONE: Campbellsville 7, Bethel 4
Tristin Crusenberry started on the bump for Campbellsville to begin the first game. The Tigers gave up three hits, tallying three runs in the Wildcats' share of the inning. Campbellsville responded with a lead-off hit from Amayas Lamar, followed by a pitch sent over the right-center field fence for a two-run homerun from Jorge Gonzalez. Two Bethel errors allowed Kale Seitz and Mael Zan to reach base. The Tigers' success continued with Trent Buchanan reaching with a hit of his own, advancing the runners into scoring position. Zan was able to cross the plate on another error, tying the game at 3-3 before the final out was recorded.
The Wildcats continued to get hits, bringing another runner across the plate to regain their lead, 4-3. In the bottom half of the second, Lamar reached on his second hit of the day. J. Gonzalez sent another pitch out of the ballpark, earning his second two-run homerun of the day and giving the lead back to the Tigers.
The third inning was quickly retired for both sides. J. Gonzalez reached base via walk and scored on a double to left-center from Kale Seitz.
Campbellsville put away the Wildcats in three up, three down fashion to close the top half of the fifth inning. Buchanan opened the bottom half with a single to left field. Shoki Fukui came in to pinch run, advancing to second with a sacrifice bunt from Yosuke Fujie. Fukui was left stranded.
Bethel earned a base runner with a single to left field in the sixth inning but couldn't make their way around the bases. Chad McCann earned a two-out single with a hit to shortstop. Bret Bowers reached on an error, advancing to second and scoring McCann. The Tigers extended their lead over the Wildcats to three runs, 7-4.
The top of the seventh inning was quickly retired, giving the Tigers the win.
Crusenberry pitched the entirety of the game, striking out five batters and throwing a total of 83 pitches. J. Gonzalez led with two hits, four RBIs, and two homeruns. Lamar and Buchanan followed closely with two hits each, respectively. As a whole, the Tigers led in many categories: hits (8-5), runs (7-4), RBIs (6-3), homeruns (1-0), doubles (1-0), and stolen bases (1-0).
GAME TWO: Campbellsville 5, Bethel 7
The Wildcats opened the second game with two hits but couldn't capitalize with runners on base. Campbellsville retaliated with singles from McCann, Seitz, and Zan. Buchanan singled to left-center, sending Seitz and Zan across the plate to take an early 2-0 lead.
Bethel tacked on two more hits but couldn't find their way around the bases. The Tigers started the bottom of the second with a single up the middle from Henry Wright. Shortly after, Lamar singled to right field and advanced Wright into scoring position at second base. J. Gonzalez reached via fielder's choice, moving Wright to third. Unfortunately, none of the Tigers were able to find their way home.
Campbellsville put the Wildcats away in three up, three down style to move to the bottom of the third inning. Seitz opened their share of the inning with a lead-off homerun to right field, giving the Tigers a three-run lead.
The Wildcats put two runners on base to begin the fifth inning but were left on base. J. Gonzalez reached after being hit by a pitch, followed by a pitch sent over the fence from Seitz for a two-run homerun. Buchanan singled through the right side but was unable to make it around the bases.
Several hits from Bethel allowed the Wildcats to leave the game tied at 5-5 in the top of the sixth inning. In the bottom half, Lamar reached on an infield error. J. Gonzalez and McCann reached base with singles, advancing the base runners. Unfortunately, Campbellsville couldn't send the go-ahead run across the plate.
The Wildcats sent two more runs across the plate to begin the seventh inning of work, taking a 7-5 lead over the Tigers. The bottom half was retired quickly, followed by a quick three up, three down top of the eighth. Wright singled to center field in the bottom half but was left stranded.
Bethel tried to add to their lead in the final inning but couldn't capitalize with a runner on base. Seitz added another single to his stats, but it was the lone hit for the inning. The Tigers dropped the second game, 7-5.
Zane Morrison and Ryan McFarland combined to strike out nine batters, throwing a combined total of 151 pitches. Seitz led with four hits, three RBIs, and two homeruns. Buchanan, McCann, and Wright each had two hits.
The Tigers will return to the field tomorrow, Saturday, April 27th, to complete the three-game series against the Bethel Wildcats. The game is set to begin at 1 p.m. ET in Campbellsville, Kentucky.
