CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. — The Campbellsville Tigers wrapped up their conference series against the Cumberland Phoenix on Saturday, earning a comeback win to clinch the set. After trading momentum throughout the game, the Tigers delivered a strong late push to overtake the Phoenix and finish the weekend with a series victory.
- Campbellsville finished the conference series 2-1, securing a series win over Cumberland with a dominant game one, winning 6-1, and a come-from-behind 8-6 victory in game two.
- The Tigers totaled 24 hits and 14 runs across both games.
- Campbellsville delivered the defining moment of the series in the second game, overcoming a deficit with a six-run late-inning rally to complete the comeback and take control of the series.
- Antony Gilbert led the offense with five hits, five RBIs, and a home run, serving as the primary run producer across both games.
- Jason Franzel provided key production in pressure situations, driving in two RBIs in game two to help fuel the comeback.
- Brady Henke set the tone at the top of the order, reaching base consistently and scoring important runs in both games.
- Campbellsville's offense combined for three home runs in the series, helping the Tigers build early leads and sustain momentum.
- The pitching staff played a key role across the series, with Joe McBride starting the first game and setting the tone early, while Parker King and Ethan Wood worked out of the bullpen in the latter match-up to stabilize the late innings and help secure the win.
- The Tigers will be back in action Tuesday, April 14 for a midweek game, hosting the Union Commonwealth Bulldogs.
GAME ONE: Campbellsville 6, Cumberland 1
Cumberland opened the game at the plate but couldn't get anything going, going down quickly on a flyout and back-to-back strikeouts to start the day scoreless. Campbellsville got a baserunner in the bottom half as
Brady Henke reached, but the inning ended before any damage could be done.
The Phoenix struggled again in the second frame, managing only a walk before a double play erased the threat. The Tigers capitalized in their half. After a leadoff out,
Thomas Krueger singled, and
Kleysen Gabruck was hit by a pitch.
Joaquin Hernandez drove in the first run with a single through the right side, and
Kyle Liu followed with an RBI to make it 2-0.
In the third, Cumberland put runners on, but the pitcher
Joe McBride and the defense worked out of it to keep them scoreless. Campbellsville responded immediately as
Antony Gilbert hit a solo home run to extend the lead to 3-0.
McBride stayed in control after allowing a single in the fourth inning, and the Tigers broke it open in the bottom half. After Gabruck reached, Liu hit a two-run homer, and Campbellsville added another run later in the inning to push the lead to 6-0.
McBride continued to cruise through the fifth and sixth, keeping Cumberland off balance while the Tigers stayed in command despite limited offense.
In the seventh, Cumberland scored once on an error, a passed ball, and a sacrifice fly, but Campbellsville limited further damage.
Through seven innings, Campbellsville stayed in control behind McBride on the mound, holding a 6-1 lead and keeping Cumberland in check.
GAME TWO: Campbellsville 8, Cumberland 6
Campbellsville wasted no time setting the tone early, answering Cumberland's quiet top half with a strong offensive push in the bottom of the first.
Brady Henke sparked the inning with a double down the right field line, and after a quick out,
Jaxson Grubbs delivered an RBI single to bring him home for the first run of the game. The Tigers kept the pressure on as
Jason Franzel followed with a base hit, and
Kleysen Gabruck drove in another run with a single to right, giving Campbellsville a 2-0 lead after one.
Cumberland responded in the second inning, using a two-RBI single to even the score before a three-run homer to left field shifted the momentum and gave them a 5-2 lead.
Despite the setback, the Tigers' pitching staff began to settle in. Over the next few innings, Campbellsville limited further damage and kept the game within reach.
The Tigers chipped away in the sixth inning.
Antony Gilbert led off with a double, and
Jason Franzel came through again with an RBI single to cut the lead to 6-3.
In the meantime, Cumberland added another run on a solo home run in the sixth, extending their lead before the Tigers made their move.
Then came the turning point in the seventh inning, Campbellsville capitalized on defensive miscues and stayed patient at the plate. After reaching base on an error,
Tate Wischnack came around to score as
Antony Gilbert delivered a clutch three-RBI double to left-center, tying the game at 6-6. The Tigers kept the momentum going, taking advantage of a wild pitch to push across the go-ahead run, and a bases-loaded walk to Franzel extended the lead to 7-6.
With the lead in hand, the Tigers added an insurance run in the eighth. Wischnack worked a walk, advanced on a wild pitch, and came around to score on
Nick Hagen's RBI single to right field, making it 8-6.
From there, the Tigers' bullpen shut the door, holding Cumberland scoreless over the final frames to secure the 8-6 comeback victory. With the win, Campbellsville took the series.
