CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – On Saturday, the Campbellsville University baseball team kicked off their four-game series against the Indiana Tech Warriors at HIG Baseball Field, splitting the doubleheader with a close defeat in the opener before rallying for a hard-fought shutout victory in the nightcap.
- Campbellsville split Saturday's doubleheader against Indiana Tech, dropping the first contest 5-2 before taking Game Two 3-0.
- Right-hander Joe McBride delivered an absolute masterpiece in the second game, tossing a complete-game, one-hit shutout while striking out eight Warriors.
- Joaquin Hernandez provided the offensive spark in Game One, going 2-for-3 with a double and driving in both of Campbellsville's runs on a clutch two-out single.
- Starter Brody Forno took a no-decision in the opener but pitched exceptionally well, striking out seven batters over six innings while allowing just two earned runs.
- Kleysen Gabruck executed flawlessly in Game Two, utilizing a bunt single to force a throwing error that plated the game's first run before scoring a run of his own.
- The Tigers will be back tomorrow, Sunday, March 1, at HIG Baseball Field, with first pitch at 1 p.m. ET to conclude the series against Indiana Tech.
GAME ONE: Indiana Tech 5, Campbellsville 2
Both teams went quietly in the opening inning, but Campbellsville broke through first in the bottom half of the second.
Thomas Krueger sparked the offense with a single through the right side, and
Luke O'Brien followed closely behind with a double down the left-field line to put two runners in scoring position. With two outs,
Joaquin Hernandez delivered a clutch single up the middle, driving in both runs to give the Tigers an early 2-0 lead.
Starter
Brody Forno was sharp early, holding Indiana Tech scoreless through the first three innings and fanning seven batters during his outing. A key double play in the third helped Campbellsville maintain momentum and keep the visitors off the board.
The momentum shifted in the fourth inning. Indiana Tech used a double down the left-field line from J. Santana followed by a two-RBI single up the middle by K. Dunkle to tie the game at 2-2.
Both pitching staffs settled in during the middle frames, as neither side managed to produce sustained offense. Indiana Tech recorded a single in the sixth, but Campbellsville's defense limited the damage and kept the score tied. Campbellsville received strong relief work from
Ethan Wood and
Reid Turner, with Turner ultimately striking out three over two innings. Hernandez added a spark in the seventh with a double to center field, but the Tigers were unable to convert the opportunity into runs.
The game turned in the top of the eighth inning. Indiana Tech put together three hits, including another two-RBI single down the right-field line from Dunkle to take a 4-2 lead. A wild pitch later in the inning allowed N. McEldowne to score, extending the advantage to 5-2.
Campbellsville showed fight in the ninth, putting two runners on after back-to-back hit-by-pitches taken by Hernandez and
Brady Henke, but the Tigers were unable to deliver the timely hit needed to mount a comeback.
GAME TWO: Campbellsville 3, Indiana Tech 0
With the Tigers looking to bounce back, Game Two began as a tight defensive battle, with both teams trading quick outs in a scoreless first inning.
The Tigers broke through in the second inning when
Tyler Hummel drew a leadoff walk to set the table.
Kleysen Gabruck followed with a perfectly placed bunt single and advanced to second on a throwing error that allowed Hummel to sprint all the way home for the game's first run.
Nick Hagen added to the momentum with an RBI groundout to shortstop that brought Gabruck home, giving Campbellsville a 2-0 lead.
Indiana Tech threatened in the third inning with a walk and a single—their only hit of the contest—but the Tigers worked out of trouble to preserve the shutout. Campbellsville had a chance to extend its lead in the bottom half after Krueger singled and stole second, but the Warriors escaped without allowing a run.
The Tigers added insurance in the fourth inning. After Hagen reached on a fielder's choice and Henke singled to right,
Antony Gilbert delivered an RBI groundout to second base, scoring Henke and pushing the lead to 3-0.
Campbellsville starter
Joe McBride was the story of the day. The right-hander was completely dominant on the mound, limiting Indiana Tech to just a single hit across seven innings while striking out eight to earn the complete-game victory.
The Tigers continued to apply pressure with small-ball execution in the fifth inning, using a single and two sacrifice bunts to move a runner into scoring position, but Indiana Tech's bullpen prevented further damage. McBride slammed the door in the seventh to close out the day with a 1-1 split.
