COLUMBIA, SC – In the opening game of a pivotal Appalachian Athletic Conference series, the CIU baseball team played host to the Skyhawks of Point University. After answering a 3-run Point first inning with 4 of their own runs, the Rams allowed 11 total runs in the first three innings of the game. After battling back to plate 6 more runs throughout the game, the Rams fell short in a back-and-forth slugfest by a final score of 15-10. The Rams move to 10-9 on the regular season and 4-3 in conference play.

How It Happened: The Rams bats were effective early as they plated 4 runs in the first inning on a pair of doubles from Robert Bell and Kody Trujillo. Point University used the long-ball to pull ahead in the 3^rd inning by a score of 11 to 5. A fourth inning homerun by Josh Hernandez, his 8^th on the season, made the score 11 to 7, but the Rams would never draw closer in the matchup. In spite of a much-needed lift in the bullpen from Tyler Parker in the middle innings, the four-run deficit proved too drastic a hole to dig out of. After a 4-run 8^th inning for Point, the Rams' late rally brought the score to 15-10 at the close of the game.

Game Notes:

• Skye Foster recorded the first extra-base hit of his young career at CIU.
• Kody Trujillo had two hits including a 2-RBI double.
• Robert Bell recorded two hits and two RBI on the day.
• Joshua Hernandez added to his impressive homerun total for the season with a 2-run blast, his 8^th on the year.

Up Next:
The Rams look for revenge in a double-header matchup against Point University tomorrow beginning at 12 PM in Columbia. Live stream access is available on the Rams baseball schedule.