CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. – On Friday afternoon, the Tigers opened their Mid-South Conference series against Bethel University with a 9-5 home victory, using an early offensive surge to set the tone. The Tigers plated three runs in the first inning and never surrendered the lead, holding off a late Bethel rally in the ninth to secure the win.
- Anthony Esposito went 2-for-5, scoring 2 runs, including runs in the 4th and 8th innings.
- Jason Franzel finished 2-for-4 with 2 RBIs and 1 run scored, delivering run-scoring singles in the 1st and 4th innings.
- Trey Proctor went 3-for-4 with 2 RBIs, 1 run scored, and 2 stolen bases.
- Kleysen Gabruck recorded a 2-for-4 performance with 2 RBIs and 1 run scored, driving in runs in the 1st and 3rd innings.
- Thomas Krueger went 2-for-4 with 1 RBI and 2 runs scored, highlighted by an RBI single in the 4th inning.
- Joaquin Hernandez finished 1-for-3 with 1 RBI, 1 stolen base, and 1 walk.
- Campbellsville will look to carry this momentum into game two of the series tomorrow, with the first pitch scheduled for 12 p.m. ET.
Bethel threatened early in the first inning with a leadoff single, but the Tigers quickly shut it down by catching a runner stealing and recording two outs to escape.
Campbellsville wasted no time responding in the bottom half of the inning. After a pair of singles from
Antony Gilbert and
Thomas Krueger,
Jason Franzel delivered an RBI single to open the scoring.
Trey Proctor followed with another RBI knock, and
Kleysen Gabruck capped the inning with a run-scoring single to give the Tigers a 3-0 advantage.
Bethel answered in the second inning, using a walk and two hits, including an RBI double down the left field line, to cut the deficit to 3-1.
The Tigers added to their lead in the third inning when
Trey Proctor worked a walk, stole second, and later scored on Gabruck's RBI single to make it 4-1.
After a quiet fourth inning from Bethel, Campbellsville broke the game open in the bottom half. The Tigers strung together multiple hits, including RBI singles from
Thomas Krueger and
Jason Franzel, along with a fielder's choice and a bases-loaded walk from
Joaquin Hernandez, to plate four runs and extend the lead to 8-1.
Both teams were held scoreless through the middle innings as the Tigers' pitching staff limited Bethel's opportunities and the defense turned key outs.
Campbellsville added an insurance run in the eighth inning when
Anthony Esposito reached on a bunt single and later scored on an RBI groundout by
Jaxson Grubbs, pushing the lead to 9-1.
Bethel made things interesting in the ninth inning, capitalizing on defensive miscues and timely hitting to score four runs and cut the deficit to 9-5. However, the Tigers were able to record the final outs and close out the game.
