BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Campbellsville Tigers traveled to Bowling Green, Kentucky, to begin their Mid-South Conference Tournament run. During their first game of tournament play, the #5 seeded Tigers took on the #2 seeded Bethel Wildcats. After tying the game in the eighth inning, the Tigers couldn't finish the job, falling 12-9.
Jorge Gonzalez became the game's first base runner after being hit by a pitch. Kale Seitz sent a pitch to right field, earning bases and advancing J. Gonzalez to third. Mael Zan followed with a double to center field, scoring J. Gonzalez and moving Seitz into scoring position. The Tigers' success continued with a single from Trent Buchanan to send Seitz across the plate. Before the final out was recorded, Campbellsville took an early 2-0 lead over the Wildcats. In the bottom share of the inning, Tristin Crusenberry started on the mound. The Tigers put away the Wildcats quickly with Crusenberry striking out two of the three batters.
The Wildcats capitalized during the bottom of the second inning, sending four base runners around the bases.
Chad McCann earned free bases after being hit by a pitch, followed by another single from Seitz. The Tigers couldn't send anyone across the plate with runners on base. Much like the second inning, Bethel added more runs to their side of the scoreboard to take a 6-2 lead.
Henry Wright was hit by a pitch to reach base, followed by Jonah Bachiu reaching via walk. Amayas Lamar singled to center field, scoring Wright and advancing Bachiu. The Wildcats couldn't extend their advantage to move into the fifth inning.
McCann sent a pitch to the center field fence for a leadoff double in the sixth inning. McCann was sent across the plate with the help of Zan's stand-up double. Doubles continued for the Tigers, with Buchanan reaching on one of his own. With the bases loaded after Fujie reached on a walk, a double play ended the Tigers' share of the inning.
With two outs in the sixth inning, J. Gonzalez sent a pitch over the left field fence, hitting his eighth homerun of the season and cutting the Wildcats' lead to one run. Bethel retaliated with a homerun of their own to extend their lead back to two runs. Zane Morrison came to the mound to relieve Crusenberry and quickly retired the inning.
Buchanan was awarded free bases via walk, with Reid Sturn coming in to pinch run. Fujie was also given free bases, reaching on a walk. Bret Bowers came in to pinch hit, and an interference call on the catcher sent Sturn across the plate and Fujie to third. The Tigers trailed the Wildcats 8-6 to enter Bethel's share of the inning. Bethel managed to send another run across the plate, extending their lead to 9-6.
River Terry and Amayas Lamar began the eighth inning with back-to-back walks. J. Gonzalez smacked a ball over the center field fence for a three-run homerun to tie the game. McCann and Zan both reached after being hit by a pitch, but neither could make their way around the bases. Aaron Hammer opened on the mound in the bottom half. With two outs and the bases loaded, the Wildcats clawed their way back to the lead with two runs sent home. Before the inning's conclusion, the Wildcats took a 12-9 lead over Campbellsville.
Bachiu started the top of the ninth inning for the Tigers with a single to center field, but Campbellsville couldn't send anyone across the plate before the game concluded. The Tigers fall to the Wildcats, 12-9.
The Tigers will be back in action tomorrow, Friday, May 3rd, for an elimination round match-up against Lindsey Wilson College. The game is set to begin at 12 p.m. ET in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
