Columbia, SC-
Following the historic home wins over Piedmont International, the Rams softball team were set to take on several teams in the Blue & White Alumni Classic at Southern Wesleyan, but the games were later canceled. After the week off, the team came back home to take on the traveling Edward Waters Tigers in the first of two games against their first NAIA opponent. After both games CIU left victorious in both games 4-1 and 5-3 respectively.
Game One Highlights
- Alexis Holler picked up where she left off starting off well in the opening inning as she struck out two batters and to quickly send off the Tigers
- Robyn Andrews got the first hit of the day, and reached third base off a ground out from Kayla Washington. Andrews was in scoring position but Milena Picciano lined out to end the inning.
- Both team traded three out as the Rams either grounded out or flied out to center, while the Tigers were caught stealing trying to reach third in the second inning.
- In the bottom of the third, Elizabeth Allen stole second base as Alyssa Allender hit a fly ball out to left to end the inning.
- The Rams got on the board in the fourth inning when Brittney Allender hit a single to left center and sent Kayla Washington home from third base.
- A Washington double to deep right center was bobbled by a Tiger and sent Alyssa Allender home to in the fifth inning. Milena Picciano hit a double to send Washington home to make it 4-0
- Edward Waters ended avoided a shutout in the sixth inning when Kara Snow scored off of a hit to center field from Ashley Combast to make it 4-1
- After Holler struck out a batter in the seventh, and pop out hit closed the game and gave the first game to the Rams
Game One Box Score Highlights
Game Two Highlights
- Allyssa Allender moved from shortstop to the mound in game two for the Rams as the Tigers would strike first in the opening inning when Passion Mills scored from second off of Ashley Combast's sacrifice bunt.
- Both teams came out the second inning scoreless depsite Trinity Jennings being walked and eventualy reaching second base.
- Robyn Andrews then hit a homer in the bottom of the third inning to tie things up, her second home run of the season.
- Trinity Jennings stepped up to the plate later in the inning and sent the ball over the fence for a grand slam, sending Allender, Kayla Washington, and Milena Picciano home to make it 5-1.
- In the seventh inning, the Tigers looked to comeback when Celeste Clark scored off of an walk by Combast
- An Alyssa Fonda single sent Passion Mills home to cut the deficit to two runs
- A groundout by Brooke Spaulding ended their comeback hopes and sealed the sweep for the Rams as CIU won the second game 5-
Game Two Box Score Highlights
- The Rams scored five runs on eight hits
- Jennings hit her second home run of the season, and the first grand slam of her collegiate career.
- Allender earned her first win on the mound as she struck out four batters.
- Lana Fletcher came in for relief pitching and earned a strikeout along the way
- CIU is now 4-0 at home this season, and now moved to .500 at 6-6
Up Next: The Rams will be at home for back to back doubleheaders. On March 1st at 1:00 and 3:00 PM CIU takes on Trinity Baptist, who they already defeated earlier in the season. Then on March 2nd at 1:00 and 3:00 PM, the Rams open up AAC play when they host Milligan College
