COLUMBIA, S.C. - The Rams softball team returned home for the final home series of the year against Union College, Ky. CIU is hot off a win over Bluefield College yesterday, beating the Rams 14-6 in impressive fashion. This momentum wouldn't last as the Bulldogs of Union dismantled the Rams through two games.
Game One: CIU 1 Union 4
- CIU began game one hot, as Tanaya Ellis scored off a wild pitch by the Bulldogs, giving the Rams a 1-0 lead.
- Union battled back in the fifth inning, as Ariel Dailey hit a two-run RBI single to right field, going up 2-1 on the Rams.
- The Bulldogs scored an additional run in the 7th inning, off of an error by CIU first basemen Shannon Patton. Later in the at-bat, Bulldog Sarah Lowe hit an RBI single to shallow left, giving the Bulldogs a 4-1 victory over CIU.
Game Two: CIU 1 Union 7
- Union College got the scoring going first in game two, as Lily Ayers hit a two-run homer over left-center, giving the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead.
- In the bottom of the 2nd, Shannon Patton answered with a homer of her own over center field, cutting Union's lead to one.
- The Bulldogs distanced themselves from CIU in the 3rd inning, as Brittanni Bradanick hit a two-run RBI single to shallow center field, as Union pulled away into a 4-1 lead.
- The Bulldogs got an additional run in the 4th, as Makala Gore tagged up on a ground out from third, extending the lead by 4.
- Union College scored their final two runs of the game in the 7th inning, as Bradanick batted in two runs off of a single to shallow center field, giving the Bulldogs a 7-1 lead.
Key Players
- Shannon Patton hit a homer to center field, scoring one of CIU's only runs on the day.
Up Next: Despite a disappointing result on the diamond today, the Rams were able to clinch an AAC playoff spot with their win over Bluefield yesterday. CIU heads to Kingsport, Tennessee, next Monday to contend for the AAC crown.
