PIKEVILLE, Ky. – After sweeping the series against the Madonna Crusaders, the Campbellsville Tigers hit the road for a mid-week game against the University of Pikeville Bears. With the offense still red-hot, the Tigers defeated the Bears 21-9 with their second mercy-rule victory in a row.

​After the lead-off man was retired to start the game for the Tigers, the offense hit the gas pedal and never looked back. Trent Buchanan was the first man to reach base with an infield single to the pitcher. Though the Bears' defense was able to collect the second out, Zane Skansi passed the torch with a single to left field. Tanner Park drew first blood for the Tigers with a three-run home run to the opposite field for his second jack this season. Tate Wischnack kept the inning alive with a single to center field, and James Teets tallied his third homer of the season with a two-run blast to left field.

​After a big five-spot to set the tone, Connor Martin took the mound for the Tigers, making his first start of the season. Trying to find his groove, Martin walked the first two batters but was able to retire the next two with flyouts. A hit-by-pitch loaded the bases for Martin, and a single to shortstop gave the Bears their first run, though Martin was able to escape the jam with minimal damage.

​Looking to extend the lead in the second inning, Yosuke Fujie gave the Tigers a man in scoring position with a one-out double. Skansi walked to give the Tigers another baserunner with two outs. Bret Bowers displayed his Bower-Power and unloaded on a three-run blast to left field, putting the Tigers up 8-1. Needing to hang a big zero in the bottom of the frame, Martin retired the side in order while picking up a strikeout.

​With the pedal to the metal, Wischnack led off the top of the third inning with an opposite-field double. Teets followed up with a single to center that plated Wischnack and was pinch-run for by Trey Proctor. Henry Wright replaced Proctor, reaching with a fielder's choice, and Joaquin Hernandez moved him up with a single to the right side. Both runners advanced with a passed ball, setting up Fujie for an RBI single to the first baseman. Buchanan followed up with another RBI single to left field, moving Fujie to second base. A balk from the pitcher allowed both runners to advance, bringing Skansi to the plate. Skansi got the job done with a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Fujie, finishing off another crooked number for the Tigers' offense.

​In need of another scoreless inning, Martin continued on the mound in the bottom of the third and walked the lead-off hitter. A fielding error by the third baseman put the righty in trouble, though he responded with his second strikeout. The Bears cashed in their second run with a single to right field, and another walk forced the Tigers to go to their bullpen. Jackson Dollar took over for Martin, making his seventh appearance of the season. With the bases loaded and one out, the first batter Dollar faced singled to right field, plating another run. A ground ball gave the Tigers hope for a double play, but they could not turn it, and another run scored. Another walk reloaded the bases for the Bears, but a groundout helped Dollar escape with minimal harm.

​With their lead shortened, the Tigers looked to keep adding on in the top of the fourth inning. Wischnack started the offense with a one-out walk, stole second, then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Teets followed up with a walk and was pinch-run for by Proctor, who immediately stole second base. A walk to Wright loaded the bases and forced the Bears to dig into their bullpen. Hernandez got the job done and scored Wischnack and Proctor on a fielding error by the shortstop. With runners at the corners, Fujie added on with a single to left field that scored Wright. Buchanan moved Hernandez to third base with a deep fly-ball to center field, and Skansi brought him home with a single to left field.

​Leading 16-4 with a lot of game left, Ryan Fischer took the mound in the bottom of the fourth inning, making his first appearance of the season. After walking the first batter, Fischer picked up his first strikeout and walked the next batter. A double to left field plated one run for the Bears and put two men in scoring position. Struggling to find his rhythm, Fischer walked the next two batters, scoring another run for the Bears. Needing to stop the bleeding, Ryan McFarland came in to take over for Fischer, making his seventh season appearance. McFarland struck out his first batter, but a single to center scored two more runs before the inning's end.

​After two quick outs in the top of the fifth inning, Lorenzo Gonzalez and Shoki Fukui tallied back-to-back singles to keep the inning alive. Pinch-running for Gonzalez was Proctor, who scored quickly on a single to left field by Hernandez.

​McFarland continued on the mound for the Tigers in the fifth inning and quickly picked up the lead-off out. A couple singles put runners at the corners with two outs, and a walk loaded the bases. Though McFarland surrendered another walk that scored a run, he was again able to escape the jam with minimal damage.

​Swinging hot sticks, the Tigers' offense continued their production in the top of the sixth inning. Brock Brubaker came in to pinch-hit for Buchanan and found himself on third base after his single to left field got by the outfielder. The defensive blunders continued for the Bears as Skansi reached on an error by the third baseman, scoring Brubaker. Jaxson Grubbs followed up with a pinch-hit single to right field, and Reid Sturn walked to load the bases with no outs. Adding on for the Tigers was Wischnack, who reached on a fielder's choice and scored Grubbs. Teets grounded out to shortstop, but the ball was deep enough to score Sturn with ease.

​With an eleven-run lead going into the bottom of the sixth inning, the Tigers called for Jayden Parsons to take the mound, making his second appearance of the season. After retiring the lead-off man, the Bears threatened with a double to left field. Though he surrendered a two-out walk, Parsons was able to hold composure and finish the inning unscathed.

​With the mercy-rule victory on the horizon, the Tigers aimed to add more insurance runs in the top of the seventh. Niklas Rossius pinch-hit for Fujie to lead off and reached safely with a walk. A groundout from Skansi moved Rossius to scoring position, and a single from Grubbs put runners at the corners with two outs. Sturn cashed in the final run for the Tigers, scoring Rossius with a single to right center.

​Looking to end the game early, Parsons continued on the mound in the bottom of the seventh inning. Though he surrendered a lead-off walk, the lefty was able to strand the runner thanks to some help from the defense.

​The Tigers beat the Bears in mercy-rule fashion 21-9 in seven innings.

The Tigers tallied 21 hits and made one error, while the Bears collected eight hits and made three errors.

​The Tigers have an off day but will be back on the road to start conference play against the Bethel University Wildcats on Thursday, March 13th, in McKenzie, Tennessee. The games are set to begin at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. ET.

• The two teams matched up twice last season, and the Tigers won both games.
• Prior to the game, the Tigers' most significant margin of victory for the season was ten runs. Today's game topped that with a 12-run win.
• The Tigers and the Bears have been facing each other for many years, dating back to 1990. Campbellsville currently holds a 64-32 record against Pikeville.