For Campbellsville University, making its first trip to the NAIA World Series, baseball has been a game of lost opportunities since it arrived in Lewiston, Idaho.

The Tigers left 21 base runners stranded in two games (13 on Saturday) and lost 6-5 to Southern Poly State (Ga.). The loss bumped the Tigers from the tournament and Southern Poly won its first-ever World Series game in its third trip to Lewiston.

Campbellsville led 2-1 and 4-3, but left five runners on base in the last three innings while trying to rally against the Hornets.

For Southern Poly, Josh Grooms stole the headlines with a three-hit game and four RBI ... the last hit a solo home run that proved to be the margin of victory.

The Tigers were potent at the plate, strafing 15 hits and getting a runner on in each inning. Colin Bryan had four singles and Alex Ponich a single and two doubles to lead the Tigers' hitting attack. Chris Curley, and Nick Bertolucci had an RBI apiece and Zach Townsend knocked in two runs on a groundout and a sacrifice fly.

Dustin Carder was the winner in relief of SPS starter Mark Doll.

Eric Mattos shouldered the loss in relief of starter Bryan Fuller. Fuller, probably the most celebrated athlete in Campbellsville University history with his 21 consecutive scoreless innings in the region, relinquished three runs on seven hits and two walks in a starting role. He struck out five.

Mattos was victim of two runs in the seventh that gave Southern Poly a 5-4 lead, even though he gave up but one hit. Southern Poly used a two-base error and two fly balls to plate its fourth and fifth runs.

The Hornets won their 52ndgame in 61 starts. Campbellsville ends its season with a record of 40-12.

The Tigers scored two in the second and one each in the fifth, sixth and ninth innings. CU left two runners on in the fifth and sixth and three on in the eight when they loaded the bases with two outs.

In the second, Rob Elliott scored as a pinch runner for Jimmy Voelker, who reached on an error. Bertolucci's single plated Ponich, who reached on a bunt single.

The Tigers tied the score 3-3 in the fifth when Curley's single scored Tyler Derby who singled to leadoff the inning.

In the sixth the Tigers edged ahead 4-3. Townsend, who walked, scored when Nathan Quesenberry hit into an error at short.

CU's final run came in the ninth when Townsend's sacrifice fly scored Elliott, again running for Voelker who had singled.

In addition to Ponich and Bryan, Curley, Derby and Voelker had two singles apiece, and Bertolucci and Brian Chase a single each.

Spencer Frantz pitched the last inning for Campbellsville.

The season-ending loss signaled the CU careers of seniors Elliott, Fuller, Quesenberry, Marc Wilson, Nick Smith and Voelker.