COLUMBIA, S.C. - CIU baseball played their final two games of their series with Milligan University on Saturday. After the Rams fell to the Buffs in a close contest on Friday, each team would get a lopsided win on day two of the series. CIU was downed 11-1 in game two but then struck back with a vengeance, winning 9-0 in game three. The win is CIU's first-ever win over Milligan in baseball as CIU moves to 18-21 overall and 10-11 in the Applachain Athletic Conference.
Game Three- MU 11 CIU 1 (8 innings): The Rams got down 4-0 to Milligan in the 3rd inning before CIU put a run on the board. The Rams would score off an error thanks to a Skye Foster ground ball as Alex Miller crossed the plate. Trailing 4-1 the Rams would have chances throughout the afternoon but would be unable to hold the Milligan offense at bay. CIU cycled through three different pitchers, with Christopher Seelbach finishing the game for CIU, allowing one run while picking up two strikeouts in just over one inning pitched. CIU ultimately allowed double-digit runs as they were run-ruled 11-1 in the 8th inning
Game Three: CIU 9 MU 0 (7 innings): Trent Polly would help CIU go three up and three down from the mound to start the second game in what would be a precursor of things to come. Kody Trujillo got things going in the bottom of the 1st inning with a two-RBI single scoring Rafeal Gonzales and Joshua Hernandez. Polly would again face only three batters in the top of the second as CIU extended their lead at the bottom of the inning. Hernandez was walked with the bases loaded, and then Carter Willis crossed home plate on a Grant Bodison ground out as CIU went up 4-0. Bodison was the catalyst in the Rams' next big play as the South Carolina native smashed a two-run homer in the 4th inning. CIU scored three more in the bottom of the 6th as CIU trounced Milligan in a 9-0 shutout.
Doubleheader Notes:
- Trent Polly went the distance on the mound in game three, pitching all seven innings recording a shutout with four strikeouts, four hits, and just one walk. The sophomore faced just 27 batters as he records his fifth win on the season.
- After a tough outing in game one, Grant Bodison led the way in game three, going 2-3 with his first home run of the season, recording three RBI's.
- Kody Trujillo added three RBI's to his season total, while Robert Bell notched a double on his only hit of game three.
- Milligan was fearful of both Rafeal Gonzales and Joshua Hernandez in game three as Gonzales walked twice, and Hernandez reached base on balls three times.
- CIU now sits in 7th overall in the Appalachian Athletic Conference. The Rams have one home conference series remaining with Bluefield College at the end of April.
What Coach Johnson is saying:
"Trent Polly put us on his back in game three. When he gets in rythym, he is as good as anyone. It was a great response from our team after letting the first one get away from us."
Up Next:
CIU travels to Carolina University on April 13th, to face the Bruins in a doubleheader in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
