KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Following their NCCAA World Series opening-round loss to Jessup, the Campbellsville Tigers played an elimination game against the Judson Eagles. The Tigers were 4-1 against the Eagles coming into the day as they looked to tack on another to the win column to stay alive in the tournament. Unfortunately, the Tigers lost the game 12-2.
Toeing the rubber for the Tigers was Ryan McFarland, making his ninth start and 18th appearance of the season. After retiring the leadoff hitter, McFarland walked the next batter, but he wound up picking him off a few pitches later. With two outs, the Eagles threatened with a single and a walk, but McFarland locked back in and escaped the inning with a pop fly.
The Tigers' offense couldn't get anything going in the bottom of the first inning, bringing McFarland back to the mound for the top of the second. The righty found his groove and retired the side in order while picking up a strikeout.
The Tigers' offense was retired in order again in the bottom of the second inning, sending McFarland back out for the top of the third. McFarland stayed in his groove and retired the side in order to keep the Tigers in the ballgame.
The Tigers looked to get on the board in the bottom of the third inning. After the leadoff man was retired, Tanner Park got the offense going with a double to left-center field. Jackson Grubbs followed up with a clutch double down the right field line that plated Park easily and gave the Tigers the lead. Keeping the line moving, Lorenzo Gonzalez reached safely on a bunt single to the right side, and Grubbs advanced to third base. Gonzalez was pinch-run for by Trey Proctor, who was thrown out trying to steal second. The Eagles collected the third out with a pop fly, stranding Grubbs at third base.
With the Tigers out in front, McFarland continued on the mound in need of a big zero. The righty ran into trouble after a leadoff single, and then a double put two men in scoring position with no outs. McFarland was able to escape the jam with an infield fly out and then a lineout double play at second base.
Other than a one-out single from Antony Gilbert, the Tigers couldn't find a way to produce in the bottom of the fourth inning, bringing McFarland back to the mound for the top of the fifth. The Eagles threatened with the leadoff man reaching on an error, but Gonzalez eliminated the threat by throwing out the runner trying to steal second base. McFarland walked the next batter, and then a single to left field gave the Eagles a man in scoring position. The Eagles cashed in a run and tied the game with a single to right-center field that plated the runner from second base. McFarland was able to lock back in, though, and he retired the next two batters with a pair of pop flies to limit the damage.
Now, back to an even score, the Tigers looked to get out in front again in the bottom of the fifth inning. Henry Wright kicked off the inning with a leadoff double to right field, and then he stole third base with one out. Grubbs clutched up again for the Tigers and brought Wright home with an RBI-single to left field. Just one run was all the Tigers managed in the inning.
In the top of the sixth inning, the Eagles made a statement as they aimed to take the lead. After McFarland walked the leadoff man, a pair of bunt singles loaded the bases with no outs, forcing the Tigers to go to their bullpen. The Tigers called for Chase Tucker to take over on the mound, making his 18th appearance of the season. Unfortunately, Tucker surrendered a single to center field that kicked away from the fielder and cleared the bases, giving the Eagles the lead. With a runner on second base and still no outs, Tucker balked to move the runner to third base. The righty locked back in with a strikeout, and then a sac-fly plated the runner from third base. Tucker finished the inning with his second strikeout.
The Tigers' offense was sat down in order again in the bottom of the sixth inning, bringing Tucker back out for the top of the seventh. After a leadoff double and then a single, the Eagles cashed in with a three-run home run to left-center field. The next batter doubled to center field, forcing the Tigers to dig deeper into their bullpen. The Tigers called for Logan MacNiel to take over on the mound, making his 16th appearance of the season. The first batter MacNiel faced singled to shortstop, putting runners at the corners with no outs. The Eagles plated their ninth run with a sac-bunt back to MacNiel, who collected the out at first base. With a runner on second base, the next batter singled to center field and plated the tenth run for the Eagles. The next batter singled to right field, and then the ball kicked away again and advanced the runners to second and third base with one out. MacNiel responded with a strikeout, but then the Eagles upped their lead to ten runs with a single through the left side. Thanks to Gonzalez throwing out his second runner of the game, the Tigers were able to stop the bleeding.
The Tigers needed to score at least one run in the bottom of the seventh inning to avoid the mercy rule. Tate Wischnack gave the Tigers some hope as he led off the inning with a double off the left-center field wall. Then, with one out, Park advanced Wischnack to third base with a flyout to center field. Unfortunately, the Tigers weren't able to bring Wischnack home.
The Tigers lost the game with two runs on seven hits and three errors, while the Eagles won with 12 runs on 16 hits and no errors.
With this loss, the Tigers' baseball season came to a close. The Tigers want to thank their fans and supporters for coming out to see them play.
