CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – The Campbellsville Tigers hosted the #4 University of the Cumberlands Patriots on Saturday for the first game of the three-game series. After taking an early three-run lead, the Tigers fell to the Patriots, 10-9.
Zane Morrison opened on the mound for the Tigers. Morrison and the Tigers put away the Patriots in three up, three down fashion to move into the bottom half of the inning. Jorge Gonzalez was given free bases but was left stranded.
In the bottom of the second inning, Zan reached base via walk, followed by Yosuke Fujie doubling down the right field line and advancing Zan into scoring position at third. Jonah Bachiu reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Zan and moving Fujie to second. The Tigers' success continued with Henry Wright singling up the middle, scoring Fujie and Bachiu. Amayas Lamar also reached on a fielder's choice, advancing Wright to second base but couldn't make it around the bases. Campbellsville took a three-run lead over the Patriots to move into the third inning of play.
An infield error allowed Cumberlands to put a runner on base to begin the top of the third inning. A walk and a double down the left line helped the Patriots add their first two runs to their side of the scoreboard. The Patriots followed with a two-run homerun to take the 4-3 lead over the Tigers. Chad McCann opened the bottom of the inning with free bases on a walk, advancing to second on a passed ball. Kale Seitz sent a pitch to right field to earn bases and move McCann into scoring position at third. With the help of a sacrifice fly from Mael Zan, McCann made his way across the plate to tie the game at 4-4. Trent Buchanan singled through the left side, advancing Seitz to second. Shoki Fukui came in to pinch run for Buchanan. After a walk, Bachiu was sent to first base, and the Tigers had the bases loaded for Wright. Wright helped Campbellsville take the lead with a double to right field, scoring all three base runners. Before the final out was recorded, the Tigers led over the Patriots 7-4.
The Patriots answered back with an explosive inning of their own, sending four runs across the plate to take a one-run lead over the Tigers in the top of the fourth. Kale Seitz singled to right field in the bottom half of the inning, but Campbellsville couldn't capitalize with a runner on.
The Patriots added another run to their side of the scoreboard in the top of the fifth, extending their lead to 9-7. The Tigers were quickly put away to move into the sixth inning.
After many scoreless innings, the Patriot's Max Harper hit his second homerun of the game, extending their lead to 10-7. In the Tigers' share of the inning, Bachiu earned a lead-off single to shortstop to reach base. Wright followed with a two-run homerun over the left center fence, knocking the Patriots' lead to just one run. Lorenzo Gonzalez was given free bases on a walk, followed by a single up the middle from Seitz. Unfortunately, the Tigers couldn't send any others across the plate.
The score remained the same through the final inning. The Tigers fell to the Patriots, 10-9.
Seitz and Wright led the Tigers with three hits each. Campbellsville's pitching staff combined for eight strikeouts.
Campbellsville will be back in action tomorrow, Sunday, April 7th, to complete the three-game series against the University of the Cumberlands in Campbellsville, Kentucky. The doubleheader games are set to begin at 1 p.m. ET and 4 p.m. ET.
