HATTIESBURG, Miss. – On a day defined by dramatic swings of momentum, the Campbellsville University baseball team endured an 11-inning, 4-3 heartbreaking loss to Columbia International University before roaring back to upset #11 William Carey University 7-4 in the nightcap.
- Campbellsville (2-2) split Saturday's doubleheader, falling 4-3 in 11 innings to Columbia International before defeating #11 William Carey 7-4.
- Centerfielder Tate Wischnack powered the offense in the opener, going 2-for-5 with two solo home runs—his first long balls of the season.
- Shortstop Joaquin Hernandez anchored the lineup in the nightcap, driving in two runs on a key single to help build an early lead.
- Tristin Crusenberry earned the win on the mound against William Carey, allowing just two runs over 4.0 innings in his first start of the year.
- Ian Roemer secured the save in game two, tossing three innings of relief to close out the ranked victory.
- The Tigers will return to Kentucky to host Goshen College in their home-opening series. The four-game set begins Saturday, February 14th, at 12 p.m. ET at HIG Baseball Field.
GAME ONE: Columbia International 4, Campbellsville 3 (11 Innings)
The opening matchup was a grueling battle that saw the Tigers strike first but ultimately fall in extra innings.
Campbellsville jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning when
Joaquin Hernandez singled and later scored on a
Jason Franzel RBI single.
Tate Wischnack extended the lead in the third, launching a solo home run to left field to make it 2-0.
However, Columbia International (CIU) responded immediately in the bottom of the third, capitalizing on four hits and a sacrifice fly to plate three runs and take a 3-2 lead.
Wischnack played the hero again in the fifth inning, crushing his second solo home run of the game—and the day—over the left-field wall to knot the score at 3-3.
From there, the contest evolved into a bullpen duel. Reliever
Reid Turner was stellar for the Tigers, keeping CIU off the board from the sixth through the tenth inning. Campbellsville had a golden opportunity in the top of the 11th when pinch-hitter
Fernando Serrano led off with a triple to right-center field. However, the CIU pitching staff managed to strand Serrano at third, striking out the next batter and inducing two groundouts to escape the jam.
In the bottom of the 11th, a hit-by-pitch and an intentional walk loaded the bases for CIU. With one out, a single to left field brought home the unearned winning run, handing the Tigers a tough walk-off loss.
GAME TWO: Campbellsville 7, #11 William Carey 4
Refusing to let the earlier loss linger, the Tigers' offense exploded early against the nationally ranked Crusaders.
Campbellsville put up a three-spot in the top of the first inning.
Antony Gilbert put the Tigers on the board with an RBI double to left, scoring
Anthony Esposito.
Thomas Krueger followed with an RBI double of his own, and
Tyler Hummel capped the inning with an RBI single to make it 3-0.
The offensive pressure continued in the second inning. After loading the bases, Hernandez delivered a clutch two-run single to left field. Gilbert then lifted a sacrifice fly to center, extending the lead to a commanding 6-0.
Tristin Crusenberry (1-0) set the tone on the mound, making the start and holding the potent William Carey lineup in check. The right-hander went 4.0 innings, allowing just two earned runs while striking out three to earn the win.
William Carey attempted to chip away, scoring runs in the second, fourth, and fifth innings to cut the deficit to 7-4. However, Campbellsville turned to veteran reliever
Ian Roemer in the fifth. Roemer was lights-out, pitching the final 3.0 innings and allowing just two runs (one earned) while scattering five hits to earn his first save of the season.
The victory moves Campbellsville to 2-2 on the young season.
