Columbia, SC - The CIU softball team hosted Brewton Parker College on a cold, overcast afternoon in Columbia. The Rams are coming off of an impressive 4-0 record last week, downing Carolina University, and Montreat College. CIU shut down the Barons of Brewton Parker in the first game but couldn't pull off a comeback in the second, splitting the series 1-1.
Game One:
- CIU struck first in game one, as the Rams bats exploded in the third inning. With bases loaded, Robyn Andrews would be walked, scoring Heaven Zamora from third. In the next at-bat, both Ashlee Chinn and Tanaya Ellis would advance home off of a wild pitch to give CIU a 3-0 lead.
- CIU got on the board again in the 5th inning. Heaven Zamora and Ashlee Chinn advanced home off of an error by the Baron pitcher throwing to 3rd. The Rams were able to capitalize on the Brewton Parker errors, scoring four unearned runs on the day.
- Pitcher Catie McGovern, who had stellar performances last week on the mound, shut the Barons out, allowing only eight hits, and striking out six batters.
Game Two:
- The Barons bounced back in the second game, getting right to work in the 1st inning. CIU conceded the first run of the game on a Brewton Parker RBI to shallow left field. On the following at-bat, the Barons would again score on a double to shallow left, going up 2-0 on the Rams early.
- CIU answered in the bottom of the first, as Tanaya Ellis stole home, cutting the Barons lead to one.
- Brewton Parker continued the offensive attack as Sadie Rusteika hit an RBI double to left field, scoring Abby Cox. Later in the at-bat, the Barons would again bat in a runoff of a single to the pitcher's mound. The Rams trailed Brewton Parker 4-1, heading into the 3rd inning.
- CIU began to climb back in the 4th inning, with an RBI single from Hannah Brooke, cutting the lead to two.
- The Barons answered with a one-run home run in the top of the 5th, just barely holding off the surging Rams.
- CIU attempted to rally in the 6th inning with a sacrifice fly by Kendall Parking, scoring Haylee Wilkerson. It wouldn't be enough, however, as CIU would fall 5-3 to Brewton Parker College.
Notable Players:
- Catie McGovern had six strikeouts allowing no runs in the first game of the series.
- Tanaya Ellis scored two runs, and three hits on the day.
Up Next: The Rams travel to Georgia on Thursday to pay their make-up games with the College of Coastal Georgia at 2 & 4 PM.