Hudson Clare
Dayton, Tenn. – The 20th ranked Bryan Lions Baseball team made easy work of the visiting Mid-South Conference opponent, Campbellsville University Tigers, on Wednesday (Mar. 30) as Bryan pieced together two early runs in the first, three more runs through the third and fifth innings, and a whopping nine runs in the bottom of the seventh for a run-ruled 14-3 Lions victory. Bryan improves to 25-9 overall, while Campbellsville drop their overall record to 19-12.
The Lions produced a scorching 15 hits, while Bryan starting pitcher, Hunter Tipton, held the Tigers to six hits and three runs (two earned) through six innings of work. Along the way he walked two and struck out two. The quality start earned Tipton his fourth win of the season.
With two outs, Langston Calhoun landed a single in the bottom of the first and was sent home when Justin Morhardt followed with a double for the first run of the game. Hudson Clare reached base and Morhardt advanced to third by an error from Campbellsville. Bases were loaded after the Tiger’s pitcher hit Brookes Jones, sending him to first and Clare to second. Andrew Urbistondo plated Morhardt for the second run of the game with an RBI single, but luckily the Tigers were able to retire the inning down only 2-0.
Campbellsville cut the deficit to one on a score from a sacrifice fly, but Bryan regained a two-run lead in the bottom of the third. Jones led off with a single, advanced to second on an error by the pitcher, and then scored the run to make it 3-1. Urbistondo added to his stats with another RBI single to score Jones.
In the bottom of the fifth frame, the Lions managed to extend their lead after battling from two outs to start their at-bat. Jesus Astudillo and Crandon Wallace were walked, which set up Evan Speicher who capitalized with a two RBI double. The Lions held a 5-1 advantage over the Tigers after five innings of action.
An attempt to chip away at the Lions lead came in the top of the sixth when Campbellsville tallied two runs, but Bryan answered back in the bottom of the seventh after exploding for nine runs to seal the win after seven innings of play. Jones initiated the rally with a leadoff double, followed by a single from Urbistondo, which put runners on first and third with no outs. Astudillo reached second on a double, plating Jones and advancing Urbistondo to third. The Lions were relentless as Wallace hit an RBI single and stole a bag, giving way to Speicher who swatted a two RBI single on a new reliever who entered for the Tigers. Still with no outs, Preston King continued Bryan’s hit-streak in the inning to six with his fifth homerun of the year coming on a two-run blast. Calhoun was able to reach base on an error before advancing to third on a Morhardt double. Clare went on to register his fifth homerun of the year, coming on a run-rule three-run walk-off homerun to cap a 14-3 win over the Tigers.
Travis Moore entered in the seventh to finish off Campbellsville and ended with one walk and one strikeout. Morhardt and Urbistondo lead the Lions in the hits column with three hits apiece, while Morhardt had one RBI and Urbistondo compiled two RBI and one run scored. Speicher had a team-high four RBI after going 2-for-5 in the contest. Clare trailed with three RBI, which came on his one hit that traveled over the fence. Jones and King both picked up two hits, respectively. King amassed two RBI and one run scored, and Jones scored two runs. Astudillo, Wallace, and Calhoun each scored two runs and collected one hit apiece in the game. Cameron Yoho used his speed to score two of Bryan’s runs.
Clare and King each logged a homerun, while Astudillo, Jones, and Speicher doubled, respectively. Morhardt added two doubles to his total this year. Wallace was the only player to steal a base in the game.
The Bryan Lions Baseball team is back in Appalachian Athletic Conference action with a showdown at home Friday and Saturday (Apr. 1-2) against Milligan College (Tenn.). It’s a three game series with Friday’s game slated for 6pm and Saturday’s game-one start time scheduled for 1pm.
For the full Bryan Lions Baseball schedule, click here, or visit bryanlions.com/baseball for more info.