Less than twenty-four hours after falling to the top team in the conference the Softball team was back in action. The Rams traveled to Bluefield College for the battle of the Rams looking to get back in the win column. Yesterday, Bluefield College defeated Allen University and were looking to continue winning against another Columbia, SC team. Bluefield College got the best of CIU in game one scoring six runs in the bottom of the sixth, but a complete game shutout by Alexis Holler in game two gave the Rams a 7-0 victory.

Game One Highlights:

• The first inning did not have much action as CIU went down in order in the top of the first and Bluefield got a baserunner on via a walk, but three straight strikeouts thrown by Alyssa Allender got CIU out of the inning
• Kayla Washington singled to lead off the top of the second, but was retired on a double play and Bluefield got out of the inning on a ground out to first
• Bluefield got back-to-back singles and scored the games first run on an error by CIU
• Each team got a single to lead of their respective at bats, but three straight outs for each team moved the game into the fourth inning
• With one out in the top of the fourth Robyn Andrews reached base on a error and advanced to second on a stolen base. Kayla Washington followed Andrews reaching base on another error, but with two on base the inning ended with another double play
• CIU got two quick outs by Bluefield in the bottom of the fourth, but with two outs Bluefield got a runner on base with a walk and the next Bluefield batter popped out to short
• Brittney Allender started the top of the sixth inning off with a triple to right. After a line out to short, Alyssa Allender grounded out to short, but got her sister home to tie the game
• Bluefield loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the sixth and regained the lead on a sacrifice fly to left. CIU would get Bluefield to fly out to left for two outs in the inning, but Bluefield would score five more runs with two outs to lead 7-1
• Washington singled to lead off the inning, but another Bluefield double play erased the Rams chances and Bluefield would win 7-1

Game One Box Score Highlights:

• The Rams had four hits in game one with Kayla Washington leading the Rams with two hits...Brittney Allender had the one extra base hit and Alyssa Allender picked up the run batted in...Robyn Andrews had the lone stolen base for the Rams...Alyssa Allender pitched five innings recording five strikeouts...Laken Sparks picked up the win for Bluefield and Riley O'Neal had two hits

Game Two Highlights:

• Kaylyn DeVaney started off game two getting hit by a pitch and advanced to second. A deep fly ball to center by Kayla Washington advanced DeVaney to third with two outs. With two outs Milena Picciano singled to center to score DeVaney to give the Rams a 1-0 lead
• Bluefield started the bottom half of the inning with a single, but Alexis Holler got the next three batters out to get out of the inning
• Leslie Hicks reached second in the top of the second, but was stranded there after a pop out and a strike out
• In the bottom of the third Holler got two quick outs, but with a walk and a single Bluefield had runners on and after stolen bases runners were on second and third. Bluefield loaded the bases on a walk, but Holler got out of the jam via a strike out
• Madison Janning started the inning off reaching base on an error and advanced to second on a Leslie Hicks sacrifice bunt. Janning was able to advance to third and scored on a Brittney Allender single to left. Allender would steal second and score on a single by DeVaney to lead 3-0. Another stolen base by DeVaney got her in scoring position. Alyssa Allender joined the hit party singling to center to score DeVaney and the Rams led 4-0
• CIU got on the board in the top of the fifth after two quick outs with Janning scoring on a Hicks single
• DeVaney got hit by a pitch once again and advanced to third on a stolen base and Bluefield error. After a pop out Kayla Washington came up and hit a bomb to center for a two run home run to put the Rams up 7-0
• In the bottom of the sixth Bluefield loaded the bases with one out and were threatening, but Holler got a force out and a fly out to center to keep Bluefield scoreless
• Holler would get Bluefield to go down in order in the bottom of the seventh and CIU took game two 7-0

Game Two Box Score Highlights:

• The Rams had six hits in game two and had six different players pick up a run batted in...Kayla Washington hit her second home run of the year and had two runs batted in...Allen, Allender, Janning, and DeVaney all had a stolen base...Holler threw a complete game shutout only giving up five hits...Riley O'Neal led Bluefield with two hits

Up Next: The Rams will be back in action on Saturday in Columbia as they take on rival Columbia College for the first time ever. The games are scheduled to start at 1 & 3 pm.