HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Campbellsville Tigers played a tough doubleheader in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, against the #16 Missouri Baptist Spartans and #9 William Carey Crusaders on Friday. The Tigers lost their first game to the Spartans in a pitching dual, 4-3, and couldn't bounce back in a 9-2 loss to the Crusaders in game two.
GAME ONE: Campbellsville 3, Missouri Baptist 4
​After coming off six scoreless innings last week against Talladega College, starting pitcher Garrett Maloney had another solid day on the mound for the Tigers. Maloney had to labor through his first inning, as a walk and a double gave him two runners in scoring position with one out. However, a key strikeout and fly ball to right field left both runners stranded. The Spartans threatened to score in the following inning, beginning the second inning with a leadoff double. Maloney had other plans for the Spartans, retiring the next 12 batters in a row and striking out nine.
​During Maloney's dominant bid, the Tigers struggled to get things going offensively. They had been spraying the ball around the yard with hard contact, but the Spartan defense was always there to keep the Tigers scoreless. Through the first four innings, the Tigers were held to just two hits: a single by shortstop Antony Gilbert in the first inning and a single by catcher Lorenzo Gonzalez in the second.
​The Tigers busted the scoreless ball game in the top of the fifth inning with a leadoff home run by switch-hitting third baseman Yosuke Fujie. This home run counts as Fujie's third home run of the season, matching his season total for last year.
​In the bottom of the sixth inning, Maloney's shut-down performance was cut off after the Spartans led the inning with a solo home run to left field, tying the ball game. Maloney was relieved from the mound but not before collecting ten strikeouts and allowing only three hits and one walk.
​The Tigers looked to lefty reliever PJ Ledesma to take over the newly tied ball game. Ledesma picked up a quick first out but ran into trouble after a walk, and a single set him up for a three-run home run. The Tigers then called in righty reliever Joe McBride. Still, with one out in the fifth inning, McBride gave up a single to his first batter but ended the Spartans' four-run surge.
​As the Tigers trailed the Spartans 4-1 in the top of the seventh, they needed to get things going again. Nick Hagen gave the Tiger offense some life with a pinch-hit single, followed by Fujie connecting with his second home run of the ball game, this time from the left side of the plate. Unfortunately, two runs were all the Tigers could manage in their comeback effort.
​The Tigers lost to the Spartans in game one with three runs on six hits with no errors, while the Spartans won with four runs on six hits and an error.
GAME TWO: Campbellsville 2, William Carey 9
​After a frustrating loss in game one, the Tigers went into game two against the Crusaders looking to split the day. With home runs in his last two plate appearances, Fujie continued to punish the ball, leading the game off with another home run from the left side of the plate for his third of the day and fifth of the season.
​Chase Tucker took the mound in game two for the Tigers, looking to bounce back from a tough outing last week in Talladega. The Crusaders responded to Fujie's leadoff blast with a home run on Tucker's first pitch. Tucker responded well, though, and finished the inning without allowing further damage.
​The tie ball game was short-lived, as the Tigers were able to strike back in the second inning. With two outs, right fielder Tanner Park and designated hitter Hagen found their way on base with walks. Catcher James Teets came in clutch with an RBI single up the middle, putting the Tigers back on top. Tucker continued on the mound in the bottom half of the inning, picking up a big shut-down frame with a strikeout.
​Unfortunately for the Tigers, that would be all the scoring they could do for the rest of the ball game while the Crusaders went another route. After the Tigers went quietly in the third, the Crusader offense worked two quick baserunners with a walk and a hit-by-pitch, helping them take the lead with a two-run double and adding on with a two-run home run.
​After an early exit for Tucker, righty reliever Ryan McFarland was called to the bump in the fourth inning to try and limit the damage. McFarland struggled for the Tigers out of the pen, walking the bases loaded. A passed ball scored the first inning run, followed by another walk to reload the bases. A sac fly plated another run for the Crusaders, putting runners at the corners with two outs. The Crusaders executed a double steal that brought home their third and final run of the inning.
​Righty Jackson Dollar took the mound in the fifth inning after the Tiger offense could not respond to the Crusaders. A leadoff single with an error put another runner in scoring position for the Crusaders, capitalizing again with an RBI single.
​Lefty reliever Justin Torres debuted for the Tigers in the sixth inning, putting up the second scoreless inning for the Tigers' pitching staff while picking up a strikeout.
​The Tigers lost to the Crusaders in game two, scoring two runs on three hits and making two errors. The Crusaders won, scoring nine runs on six hits and making no errors.
The Tigers will be back in action Saturday, February 8th, for thier remaining games in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, taking on the Spartans and Crusaders for another day of doubleheader action.
- After today's match-up against Missouri Baptist, the Tigers have lost the last six meetings. Their last victory against the Spartans occurred in 2013.
- The Tigers and the Crusaders have had pretty even match-ups, with the Tigers earning ten wins and 11 losses. Thier last victory against William Carey occurred in 2024.
- Fujie's season home run total of five home runs surpasses last season's total of three.
