LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga – The CIU baseball team played their first two games of a four-game series between the Rams, Toccoa Falls College, and Georgia Gwinnett College on Friday afternoon. CIU took on the Eagles of Toccoa Falls first and would pick up their 5th win of the season over TFC, 11-6. The #5 ranked Grizzlies would prove to be more difficult as the Rams fell to the Georgia Gwinnett in game two of the day in a nailbiter 6-5.
GAME 1: CIU 11 TFC 6
Play by Play Highlights
- (4th) The Rams would climb out of a 2-0 hole after Alex Miller scored off an error, and Chandler Hunter was sent home off a Kody Trujillo groundout.
- After a Carter Willis double a Hunter Coleman single gave Willis his first run of the game.
- (5th) After two Brett Collins (RHP) strikeouts the Rams would get on the board as Kody Trujillo Tripled with the bases loaded to bring in three runs for the Rams
- Hunter Coleman picked up an RBI sending Trujillo home.
- (6th) Joshua Hernandez tripled and then scored on a passed ball putting the Rams up 9-3.
- Trujillo flew out into a double-play, but Buddy Bleasedale was able to score from third.
- (8th ) Miller scored the final run of the game for the Rams off a Jake Lewis single to give CIU an insurmountable 11-6 advantage
Box Score Highlights:
Pitching:
- In his first appearance of the season, Brett Collins recorded four strikeouts during five innings on the mound.
GAME 2: GGC 6 CIU 5
Play by Play Highlights
- (6th ) After scoring only one run against Justin Parish (RHP) early, the Grizzlies would explode for five runs in the bottom of the 6th inning.
- (7th) Joshua Hernandez gave the Rams their first run of the game, getting on base and then scoring off a Buddy Bleasedale single.
- Alex Miller would then double to center to bring Bleasedale home, and then Miller himself crossed home off a Shane Hammonds shot to left field.
- After a pitching change for the Grizzlies, Chandler Hunter singled for CIU and Hammonds scored as well as Kody Trujillo who had previously got on base on a walk to bring the score to 6-5.
- The Rams had the tying run on third with only one out but would be unable to tie the game up.
- (7th) Jake Lewis (RHP) struck out two Grizzly batters to keep the Rams' hopes alive going but CIU was not able to close the game out.
Box Score Highlights:
- Buddy Bleasedale picked up an RBI, and a run.
- Alex Miller had two hits an RBI and a run in four at-bats for CIU.
- Shane Hammonds and Hunter Chandler had RBI's while combing for three hits.
- Hammonds is currently leading the Rams with a stellar .467 batting average on the season.
Pitching:
- Justin Parish had another impressive performance with seven strikeouts in four innings.
- Jake Lewis nearly closed out the Grizzlies, but despite the Rams bats coming up short, the freshman had four strikeouts.
Game Notes
- CIU will play its fifth game against a ranked opponent tomorrow. The Rams knocked off #16 Webber International earlier this season and nearly knocked off #5 Georgia Gwinnett this evening.
UP Next:
CIU finishes its four-game series playing Toccoa Falls at 11 a.m. and Georgia Gwinnett at 3 p.m.
