Babson Park, FL – The Columbia International University Rams baseball team played a historic game Friday night as they took the field for the first time in CIU history. The Ram's opponent was the nationally ranked Webber International University Warriors. The Warriors entered the contest ranked 16th in the NAIA and coming off a 2-1 series win over Warner University. The Rams would trail early but fight their way back to be just edged out by the Warriors 5-4.
Play by Play Highlights
- (1st Inning) Grant Bodison would get on base after being hit by a pitch in the first-ever at-bat by the Rams and then advance to second on an error.
- (1st Inning) Tyler Parker struck out the first batter for the Rams on the season.
- (3rd Inning) Bodison singled to left field to once again get on base for the Rams.
- (4th Inning) Robert Bell was walked and then advanced to third base on a Gaven Causey single.
- (4th Inning) Bell would score the first run in CIU Rams history on a Warriors errant throw while Shane Hammonds stole second base. (CIU 1 WIU 1)
- (5th Inning) Kody Trujillo singled to center and would advance to second on a wild pitch.
- (8th Inning) After Bell was walked yet again, Alex Miller singled up the middle to get on base.
- (8th Inning) Chandler Hunter would single, sending both Bell and Miller home while advancing to second on the throw (WIU 5 CIU 3)
- (8th Inning) A Trujillo shot to left-field was followed by a WIU error sending Hunter across home plate to bring the score to 5-4.
Box Score Highlights:
- Sophomore Robert Bell scored two runs for the Rams, including the historic first run in program history.
- Alex Miller recorded one run, a hit, and was walked, on three at-bats.
- Chandler Hunter picked up two RBIs and scored a run on just one trip to the plate while Kody Trujillo recorded an RBI and two hits on four at-bats.
- Tyler Parker led the Rams in strikeouts with four while Hunter Coleman notched two strikeouts while yielding no runs in three innings.
What Coach Jonathan Johnson is saying:
"I was extremely pleased with my guy's intensity tonight. We played a very tough baseball team that got on top of us early. As a coach, all I can ask for is to have a chance to win late, and we did that tonight. This team will win a lot of baseball games."
Up Next:
CIU will continue their series at Webber International tomorrow at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m.