COLUMBIA, S.C. - After sweeping Carolina University (N.C.) Friday afternoon, CIU Softball returned to the field Saturday for a doubleheader with NCAA Division II Benedict College (S.C.). The Ram's claim their second sweep of the weekend, with a 6-4 win in game one and an 8-7 extra-inning win in game two.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
GAME ONE: CIU 6 BC 4: CIU trailed early in game one as the Tigers scored a run in the first and third innings. The Rams responded with an explosive fourth inning. Hallie Miller would start the inning being walked by the Tigers pitcher. Then, Madison Medlin would single and advance to second on a poor throw which moved Miller to third. Next, Haylee Wilkerson would single to bring in Miller putting the Rams on the board. Tanaya Ellis then singled to right field, bringing in another run.
Finally, Margaret Schubert would singled to left field, bringing in two more runs to close out a four-run inning for the Rams. The Tigers would tie the game up in the fifth inning, scoring two runs; however, with two outs, Ashlee Chinn would make a spectacular diving catch in left field to prevent more runners from crossing home plate. That play seemed to energize the Rams in their ensuing at-bat as Madison Medlin hit a two-run homer to take the lead 6-4. Julia Thielen and Kendall Parker came in as relief pitchers to close out the game in the circle allowing no more runs to give the Ram's a 6-4 game one win.
BOX SCORE NOTES:
- Madison Medlin continues to come on early this season, with another solid game. In her three at-bats, she had two hits and two RBI's.
- CIU's relief pitchers were outstanding in closing out the win. Parker and Theilen allowed zero runs and combined for only one hit, never giving the Tigers opportunities to come back.
GAME TWO: CIU 8 BC: 7: Batters from both teams were able to get on base throughout game two consistently. CIU would trail 7-6 with just three outs remaining in the seventh inning. However, with a runner on second, Tanaya Ellis sent a triple to center field bringing home a run to send the game into extra innings. The Rams would escaped the top of the 8th, allowing no runs. Then with a sacrifice bunt by Kaitlynn Creel that moved Macey Drye to third, Haylee Wilkerson would rope a single to center field to win the game in walk-off fashion.
BOX SCORE NOTES:
What Coach Sara Allen is saying:
"The team battled hard today! I'm very proud of how well we played team softball and the grit we showed to fight out two wins. Benedict played tough and never let us get comfortable in either game. It was definitely a day where the last punch could have gone either way, and being able to land the last one is a great sign that we're coming together as a team."
Up Next:
CIU will travel to Brunswick, Ga. to take on the College of Coastal Georgia on Friday, Feb. 18 starting at 1 PM.
