CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. -- For the third straight year, Campbellsville University wrapped up the regular season Mid-South Conference championship, as the Tigers collected a 5-3 win Saturday at Tiger Field against MSC East Division winner University of Virginia's College at Wise.

The difference between the previous four regular season titles though is Saturday's crown punches the Tigers' ticket to the NAIA Baseball Tournament. Having the regular season automatic bid, something new for the MSC this season, relieves any pressure of having to win the MSC Tournament, which begins Thursday, April 28 at Tiger Field

"It's awesome. There are five other schools come Thursday that wish they had what we have. We already have that ace in the hole," CU head coach Beauford Sanders said. "If we wanted to do something different to get someone a start, we can do that knowing it won't affect us. We're the No. 1 seed, we're going to the national playoffs, but regardless of who we start or how play, we're going to play to win it all."

The Tigers' desire to play to win it all was displayed Saturday as they ran their win streak to five games. Senior rightfielder Jameel Ziadeh led the Tigers with a 3-for-4 day and Craig Edwards and Rylan Chin were each 2-of-5 at the plate to combine for seven of CU's 11 hits.

Campbellsville took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning, while playing as the visitors on the scoreboard. Michael Durham scored the Tigers' first run on an RBI single by Tony Rossetto. After UVa.-Wise tied the game in the fifth with a ground out RBI by Kirk Jennings, the Tigers regained the lead in the sixth. Ziadeh doubled to left to lead off the inning and scored on an RBI single by Durham.

Michael McBride allowed the tying run in the bottom of the sixth after giving up a leadoff hit to Louis Roa before exiting the game. While Mason Mays grounded an RBI off relief pitcher Andrew Shoemaker to tie the game, the run was credited to McBride, who recorded a no decision.

Campbellsville responded once again in the seventh, pushing two runs across to make it a 4-2 game. Chin led off the inning with a single, followed by a one-out single by Edwards. After Edwards moved up a base on a passed ball, he scored on a squeeze play bunt by Ziadeh with two outs. It was the third successful squeeze for the Tigers against UVa.-Wise and the second for Ziadeh.

The two hits sparked a seven-hit press by the Tigers in their final four innings.

Wise put another run on the board in the seventh on an RBI by Brad Ricker but left the bases loaded as Jeff Bjourkland pitched out of a jam for CU. Bjourklund tossed 1 1/3 innings before Drew Pettit came in to close out the ninth with three strike outs for his fourth save of the season.

"We had some bumps in the road today, but when we have those, we just grind through it and keep playing. Most of our hits today came after the fifth inning. We showed a lot of grit and determination," Sanders said. "Wise was wanting to take us to a third game today, but we turned them back. It was a true team effort. I'm so pleased (to win the title). It never, ever gets old. It's always an accomplishment when you get to this point."

Campbellsville will play one final regular season game Tuesday, April 26 at Indiana University Southeast in New Albany, Ind. Game time is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET.

The MSC Tournament will be played at Tiger Field Thursday, April 28 through Sunday, May 1. As the host team and No. 1 seed, Campbellsville will play the 7 p.m. game on the first day against No. 6 seed St. Catharine College. UVa.-Wise will be the No. 2 seed in the tournament and play No. 5 Georgetown College. No. 3 University of the Cumberlands will play the only other MSC East team other than UVa-Wise, No. 4 Shawnee State University.


CAMPBELLSVILLE CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
Mid-South Conference Regular Season (5): 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2011
Mid-South Conference Tournament (7): 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
KIAC (3): 1987, 1995, 1996

NAIA REGIONAL or OPENING ROUND APPEARANCES
1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011