CCU Baseball came out with another split on day 2 of the NCCAA National Championship.  CCU defeated Hiwassee College 7-5 and then lost to Campbellsville University 12-0.  This has the Cougars at 2-2 in pool play, meaning they still have a chance to make it to the semifinals on Friday afternoon.  If Campbellsville and Hiwassee are able to win their games tomorrow in pool play, the Cougars could go the long stretch.  Stay updated via ccucougars.com.
 
In game 1, the Cougars totaled 13 hits and Hiwassee totaled 11.  It was a big-hitting, offensive game for both squads that had three home runs total.  Jerry Gallegos kick-started the Cougs offense in the 1st inning with a hard hit double to right center field that scored lead-off hitter Cooper Gray.  The Tigers retaliated with a run of their own in the 2^nd, and then in the 3^rd CCU's Scotty Wright slammed a 3-run home run to right field.  CCU was up 4-1.  Once again the Tigers hit a homer of their own to gain two more on the scoreboard still down 4-3.
 
The game was close through all 9 innings.  Every time the Cougars thought they had a comfortable lead, the Tigers closed the gap.  It wasn't until in the 9^th inning when CCU's final run had them up 7-4 that they could breathe.  Alex Ginn started for the Cougs on the mound and did a great job throwing through 8 innings allowing 9 hits and 4 runs, and then Tyler Henning came out with the save in the bottom of the 9^th. 
 
Jerry Gallegos had 2 doubles in the game, an RBI, and scored 2 runs.  Scotty Wright went 2-5 at the plate, scoring 1 run with 3 RBI.  Dakota Bayles and Austin Atkerson hit doubles and both players had an RBI, and second baseman Scotty Ingle hit a single that scored one as well. 
 
The 2nd game ended in a 12-0 defeat by Campbellsville University for the Cougs.  CCU's offense was flat to say the least.  They managed 4 hits in the game while the Tigers (yes, both opponents were Tigers today) totaled 17 hits.  Campbellsville was no small opponent though with an overall record of 41-18 and one game shy of making the NAIA World Series.  In the 7^th and 8^th innings, the Cougars left two runners on base, both times with a runner on third.  It just wasn't their game. 
 
Starting on the mound was Evan Fink.  Fink allowed 12 hits, 7 runs, 5 earned runs.  He was relieved by Tyler Henning who allowed 4 hits and 4 runs, and then Peter Scheffel ended the game allowing 1 hit and 1 run.  There was a total of 5 strikeouts.  Campbellsville pitcher looked good on paper as he ended the game with 8 strikeouts vs the Cougs.    
 
The Cougars are now in a tricky spot as they have to await the results of their pool to see if they will have a future in this tournament.