CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – After splitting the home-opening day against the Lawrence Tech Blue Devils, the Campbellsville Tigers looked to get back above .500 Tuesday with a doubleheader against the Brescia University Bearcats. Unfortunately, the Tigers fell to the Bearcats in game one 3-0, though they responded with a 4-1 victory in game two.

Game One: Campbellsville 0, Brescia 3

​Ryan McFarland was on the mound for the Tigers in game one, making his first start of the season. Typically a reliever for the Tigers, McFarland's longest outing of the year was just over two innings going into the day. McFarland reached back for a little extra against the Bearcats, delivering a scoreless four innings to keep his team in the ballgame. The right-hander allowed three baserunners in his performance with two strikeouts while allowing just two hits in the second inning and one in the third. With seven walks going into the day, McFarland had zero against the Bearcats. 

​Through McFarland's four innings of scoreless work, the only baserunner the Tigers were able to manage was a walk to Trent Buchanan in the second inning.

​PJ Ledesma took over for McFarland in the fifth inning, who had a shaky start to his outing but finished strong. The first batter Ledesma faced homered to left field, followed by a one-out double, which put him in more trouble. After striking out the next batter, Ledesma allowed an infield single that put Bearcats on first and third. A passed ball moved both runners up, followed by an RBI single that put the Bearcats up 3-0.

​After four innings of no-hit baseball by the Bearcats' pitching staff, Henry Wright broke it up with a leadoff double to deep center field. The Tigers desperately needed baserunners, and Bret Bowers added another one with a walk. Though Jonah Bachiu was able to move Wright to third with a sacrifice fly, the Tigers wound up stranding both baserunners. The only other Tiger to reach base the rest of the game would be Antony Gilbert, with a walk in the seventh inning.

​Ledesma returned to the mound in the sixth inning, hoping to bounce back with a zero. After an error and two walks, the Bearcats had loaded the bases with two outs. Looking for his zero, Ledesma was able to bear down and strand them all, tallying three strikeouts over his two innings of work.

​The Tigers called Chase Tucker to the mound in the seventh inning to give the Tigers a fighting chance. Tucker allowed a two-out single but stranded the runner with a strikeout.

​Campbellsville fell in game one of the doubleheader with no runs on one hit with an error, and the Bearcats won with three runs on eight hits with no errors.

Game Two: Campbellsville 4, Brescia 1

​Brody Forno got the nod for the Tigers in game two, making his third start of the season. After an error to shortstop and a base hit kicked things off for Forno, he took matters into his own hands. Forno was able to strand both baserunners with two key strikeouts and a ground ball to himself.

​After a quiet first inning for the Tigers, Gilbert found his way on base to start the second inning with a hit-by-pitch. Gilbert wound up being thrown out at second in a fielder's choice hit by Wright. Bowers came up big-time with a two-run home run, snapping the Tigers' 11 scoreless innings streak. Shoki Fukui collected a two-out single, hoping to keep the inning alive, but two was all the Tigers would get in the frame.

​After Yosuke Fujie doubled and was stranded in the third inning, the Tigers knew they needed to keep the offense going in the fourth. Bachiu started the offense with a two-out single, followed by a balk that moved him to second. Fukui came up clutch with his second game hit and scored Bachiu quickly. James Teets and Buchanan kept the line moving as both were hit by pitches, but unfortunately, the Tigers left the bases loaded.

Looking to add more run support, Wright gave the Tigers a baserunner in the sixth inning with a two-out walk. Bowers continued displaying his power, smacking a double down the right field line that scored Wright. 

​While the Tigers had managed to scratch four runs across through five innings, Forno had been busy shutting down the Bearcats' offense. After a shaky first inning, the remainder of Forno's outing was perfect. Forno retired the next twelve batters in a row, tallying five total strikeouts.

​Coming in from the bullpen in the sixth inning for the Tigers was Ethan Wood, making his third appearance of the season. Wood came in strong for the Tigers, striking out the first two batters he faced. The Bearcats were able to keep the inning alive, though, after a walk, hit batter, and stolen base put runners at the corners. Wood was able to eliminate the threat with a ground ball to finish the inning.

​After an actionless bottom of the sixth, Joe McBride took the mound to close out the game, making his fourth appearance this season. After striking out the first batter, a walk, and a wild pitch put a runner in scoring position for McBride with one out. The Bearcats were able to capitalize on the free bases, scoring their first run of the game with a single to left field. That was all the damage the Bearcats would do, as McBride was able to finish with another punch-out.

​The Tigers won game two of the doubleheader with four runs on six hits with an error, while the Bearcats lost with one run on two hits and an error.

​Campbellsville will have a couple of days off but will be back in action on Friday, February 28th, with another doubleheader against the Michigan-Dearborn Wolverines. The games are set to start at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. ET. 

• The Tigers' record against the Bearcats going into the day was 30-6, hoping to add two to the win column by the end.
• Campbellsville now holds a 31-7 record against Brescia.