Box Score (CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky.) – The seventh-seeded Thomas More University baseball team defeated sixth-seeded Campbellsville University, 11-7, today (Friday, April 30, 2021) in the first game of a three-game Mid-South Conference Tournament Opening Round series at HIG Field in Campbellsville, Kentucky.
- The Saints took an early 4-0 lead in the first inning as a single by sophomore first baseman Derek Atwood (Burlington, Ky./Conner) had a single that scored sophomore second baseman Bailey Martin (Independence, Ky./Simon Kenton) and sophomore third baseman Casey Nowak (Burlington, Ky./Covington Catholic) and then senior left fielder Brady Reynolds (White Oak, Ohio/LaSalle) had a two-run home run that scored Atwood.
- Campbellsville scored two runs in the second and one in the third to cut the lead to 4-3 after three innings.
- In the fifth, first-year right fielder Brady Baldock (Burlington, Ky./St. Henry) singles scoring sophomore shortstop Brett Benzinger (Taylor Mill, Ky./New Richmond (Ohio)), Martin doubled scoring Nowak, first-year catcher Jacob Caruso (Rootstown, Ohio/Rootstown) had a double driving home Reynolds and Martin and junior center fielder Tyler Flick (Okeana, Ohio/Ross) singled scoring sophomore pinch runner Cooper Daniels (Franklin, Ohio/Franklin) to increase the lead to 9-3.
- The Tigers scored three in the fifth and one in the seventh to cut the Saints' lead to 9-7 after seven innings.
- Thomas More added two insurance runs in the ninth as Martin scored on a single by Atwood and Caruso had a sacrifice fly scoring first-year pinch runner Noah Weingartner (Cincinnati, Ohio/LaSalle) for the final score of 11-7.
- First-year pitcher Mychal Grogan (Cincinnati, Ohio/Elder) earned the win as he pitched six and a third innings and gave up seven runs (four earned) on eight hits, while striking out five.
- Junior pitcher Ty Grimes (Miamisburg, Ohio/Miamisburg) picked up the save as he pitched two and two-third scoreless innings and gave up two hits, while striking out one.
- Reynolds was two-for-five with a home run, two runs scored and two runs batted-in.
- Martin was two-for-four with a double, three runs scored and a RBI.
- Atwood was two-for-five with a run scored and two RBI.
- Caruso was one-for-three with a double and three RBI.
- The Saints need to win just one of two games tomorrow to win the opening round series and advance to the Mid-South Tournament's final site next week in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
- The first game tomorrow will be at 1 p.m. at HIG Field and if Campbellsville wins and forces the "if necessary game" it will be 30 minutes after the completion of the 1 p.m. game.
