SUMTER, S.C. – After dropping their first three games of the season, the CIU baseball team has righted the ship, winning their last four games. CIU took on Morris College on Tuesday in an afternoon double-header as CIU utterly dominated the Hornets. CIU scored a total of 30 runs over two games as CIU won 17-4 in game one and 13-0 in game two. The 17 runs is the most CIU has scored in their very short history. CIU moves to 4-5 on the season and gets their first win over an NAIA opponent this year.
How It Happened:
Game One: CIU 17 MC 4: Neither team was able to muster a run in the first inning, but that all changed in the top of the second. CIU's bats caught fire as the Rams scored eight runs. The scoring was started by Bryce Spittle, who singled and then scored on the Buddy Bleasedale double. Alex Miller and Kody Trujillo would both get on base, and Rafael Gonzales racked up three RBI's with a double of his own, scoring Bleasedale, Miller, and Trujillo. CIU would score five more runs in the third inning and four more in the fourth inning. CIU did give up four runs in the fourth and fifth inning's, but the game was still called after the fifth due to the Rams 13-run lead.
Game Two: CIU 13 MC 0: Things got started for CIU in the second game in inning number three as Carter Willis blasted his first home run of the season. CIU would go up 4-0 after several walks, and Kody Trujillo extended the advantage to 6-0 after he connected for a double scoring Spittle and Bleasedale. The third inning turned out to be the Ram's second eight-run inning of the day as CIU took a 9-0 advantage heading into the fourth. CIU scored their final four runs of the game in the fourth inning as Shane Hammonds, Willis, and Joshua Hernandez all picked up RBI's in the inning. The game was once again ended after the fifth inning as CIU led 13-0.
At the plate:
On the mound:
- Ryan Gregory only allowed one hit in game one as he recorded two strikeouts and no runs.
- CIU picked up their first shutout of the year in game two as Chandler Hunter, and Christian Orr combined for four strikeouts while Orr picked up his first win of the year.
What Coach Jonathan Johnson is saying:
"It was another solid effort by the entire team today. Good pitching, good defense, and good approaches at the plate will equal wins more days than not".
Up Next:
CIU starts Appalachian Athletic Conference play this weekend as they host Kentucky Christian University at home on Friday and Saturday.
