CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – With the Campbellsville Tigers finishing their last series on Tuesday, they faced a quick turnaround to open their series against the Freed-Hardeman Lions on Saturday. Last season, the Tigers were swept by the Lions, and they aimed to flip the script this year. Unfortunately, the Tigers lost game one 16-3.

​Garrett Maloney took the mound for the Tigers, making his ninth start of the season. Following a leadoff walk, the Lions drew first blood with back-to-back home runs in the top of the first inning. Maloney was able to finish the inning with a flyout and two strikeouts.

​After a quiet first inning from the Tigers' offense, Maloney continued on the mound in the top of the second. From the get-go, the Lions were in swing mode as the first batter of the frame singled up the middle. Maloney retired the next hitter, and another single gave them a runner in scoring position. The Lions added to their lead with back-to-back RBI-singles, keeping runners at first and second base. The next batter grounded out to first base and allowed both runners to advance to scoring position. A two-out double plated two more runs for the Lions, and another double put them up 8-0 before the end of the frame.

​Following the early deficit, the Tigers aimed to punch back in the bottom of the second inning. The first two men were sat town in order, and Tanner Park found his way on after he was plunked. Lorenzo Gonzalez collected the Tigers' first hit of the game with a single to right field, moving Park to scoring position. Unfortunately, both men were left stranded.

​In the top of the third inning, Maloney continued on the bump for the Tigers and plunked the leadoff man, who immediately stole second base. Maloney responded by striking out the next two batters, and then a double to left field plated the ninth run for the Lions. The righty finished the inning with his fifth strikeout.

​The Tigers' offense was retired in order in the bottom of the third inning, which brought Ryan McFarland to the mound for the Tigers. Making his twelfth appearance of the season, the righty recorded a clean inning while picking up two strikeouts.

​Zane Skansi led off the bottom of the fourth inning after reaching on an error and was replaced by Antony Gilbert, who grounded into a fielder's choice. Gilbert stole second base with two outs to give the Tigers a scoring chance, though he was left stranded.

​McFarland continued on the mound for the Tigers in the top of the fifth inning and walked the leadoff man. As the Lions were notorious for swiping bags, McFarland kept his rhythm and hung another zero with a double play and a strikeout.

​Still scoreless through four innings, the Tigers looked to get on the board in the bottom of the fifth inning. After a leadoff walk to Gonzalez, Jaxson Grubbs left no doubt and demolished a two-run bomb to dead-center field to break the shutout, earning his first homerun of the season. Henry Wright kept the line moving with a wall and then advanced to scoring position on a wild pitch. With two outs, Wright kept on chugging and stole third base, and then Skansi kept the inning alive with a walk, though he was picked off to end the frame.

​In the top of the sixth inning, McFarland continued on the mound for the Tigers and retired the leadoff man with a flyout. The next batter for the Lions was plunked, and then a two-run homer to right field put them up 11-2. McFarland retired the next two batters in order while picking up his fourth strikeout.

​After the Lions reclaimed their nine-run lead, it looked like the Tigers weren't going to respond in the bottom of the sixth inning. Park flipped the script and cut into the lead with a two-out solo-homer to left-center field for his fourth of the season.

​Trying to avoid the mercy-rule, the Tigers kept McFarland on the mound in the top of the seventh inning to try and keep them in the ballgame. McFarland struck out the first batter of the inning and then plunked the next batter. After picking up the second out, the righty collected his sixth strikeout, but it got through the catcher's legs and allowed the batter to reach first base. McFarland hit the next batter to load the bases, and then a sharply hit ground ball to third base gave the Tigers hope for another scoreless inning. Unfortunately, the ball was too hot to handle and was booted, scoring two more runs for the Lions. With runners at first and second, the Lions plated their 14th run of the game with a single to left field. Needing to stop the bleeding, the Tigers called for Shoki Fukui to take over on the mound, making his second appearance of the season. The lefty beaned the first batter he faced to load the bases and then surrendered a two-RBI single to left field. The Lions kept the inning alive with a walk, but Fukui was able to finish the frame with a groundout to first base.

​With the Tigers down 16-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning, they needed to scratch four runs across to avoid the mercy rule. Unfortunately, the Tigers were retired in order to finish the game.

​The Tigers lost game one of the series with three runs on three hits and two errors, and the Lions won with 16 runs on 12 hits and one error.

The Tigers will finish the series with a doubleheader against the Lions, with games set to begin at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. ET today, April 13th.