TALLADEGA, Ala. – The Tigers traveled to Talladega, Alabama, to take part in a two-day campaign against the Talladega College Tornadoes. The Tigers split the day, winning their season-opener 8-1 and falling when the Tornadoes bounced back and won game two 10-2.

Game One: Campbellsville 8, Talladega 1

Garrett Maloney put on a pitching clinic for the Tigers as he kicked off their season with four perfect innings. His first base runner came in the top of the fifth inning with one out when Maloney allowed his only walk of the day. However, the Tornadoes couldn't do anything with the free base.

In the sixth inning with one out, the Tornadoes collected their first two hits of the ballgame, breaking up Maloney's no-hit bid. Maloney remained unphased with two men on, finishing the inning and keeping the Tornadoes scoreless through the sixth. Maloney finished the day with six innings pitched, eight strikeouts, one walk, and two hits.

Ethan Wood came in to close the seventh inning, making his Tiger debut on the mound. Wood allowed one earned run and one hit while striking out the final batter of the ballgame.

The Tigers' offense was off to a slow start through the first two innings, as Antony Gilbert and Shoki Fukui both had base hits, but were left stranded. The Tigers' offense exploded in the third inning as Tanner Park led off with a double down the right field line. Zane Skansi then reached base with a walk, and Trent Buchanan put the Tigers on the board with an RBI slash single past the shortstop that scored Park. Gilbert reached for his second time with a walk to load the bases, and Jaxson Grubbs followed up with an RBI single to shortstop. As the Tornadoes still couldn't collect an out in the inning, River Terry was hit by a pitch, bringing another run home. With the bases still loaded, Henry Wright demolished a line-shot over the centerfield wall for a grand slam, capping off the big inning with the Tigers' first home run of the season.

Later, in the sixth inning, Skansi reached base for the second time with a walk, followed by a Buchanan hit-by-pitch. After both runners stole the next bag safely, Gilbert connected with a sac-fly to score Skansi with a close play at the plate.

​The Tigers finished their first game of the day with eight runs on seven hits and no errors, while the Tornadoes finished with one run on three hits and no errors.

Game Two: Campbellsville 2, Talladega 10

To start game two for the Tigers, Gilbert continued to produce for the offense and reached with a single, but was left stranded.

The Tornadoes drew first blood in game two against starting pitcher Chase Tucker, also making his Tiger debut.  Two errors by the Tigers' defense, a walk, and a sac fly put two runs up for the Tornadoes in the first inning.

The Tigers punched back immediately, as Yosuke Fujie doubled to lead off the inning, and Jonah Bachiu followed up with a double of his own to plate him. After a passed ball moved him to third, Park came up with a single to score Bachiu.

The Tigers did not score the rest of the game, but the Tornado offense continued to produce. The Tornadoes hit two two-RBI home runs in the the third inning off Tucker, who finished the inning, but was removed afterward. Tucker finished the day with three innings pitched, allowing six runs (four earned) on six hits with one walk and three strikeouts.

The Tigers' offense almost got the rally going again, as Bret Bowers singled, Bachiu walked, and Wright put down a perfect bunt to load the bases. They were unsuccessful, though, as they were all left stranded.

Ryan McFarland took the mound for the Tigers after Tucker. He put up zeros for the fourth and fifth innings while stranding base runners in both innings. In the sixth inning, the Tornadoes got up and moving again, reaching deeper into the Tiger bullpen, as McFarland allowed two runs and left two stranded with one out for Jackson Dollar. Dollar then allowed two more hits that scored both of his inherited runners.

McFarland finished the day with two and a third innings with four earned runs on five hits with one walk and two strikeouts.

The Tigers finished game two with two runs on seven hits with three errors, and the Tornadoes finished with ten runs on 12 hits without errors.

The Tigers look to bounce back tomorrow, Sunday, February 2nd, with another double-header against Talladega College before heading home for the week.

• Wood and Tucker made thier Tiger debut on the mound in today's double-header match-up.
• Today's grand slam from Wright was his seventh career home run.
• After today's two games, Campbellsville and Talladega have faced one another in eight games, with their first match-up occurring in 2019.
• Today's 8-1 victory in game one is the largest margin of victory the Tigers have taken over the Tornadoes.