MILLIGAN COLLEGE, Tenn. - Coming off a win over a top-ten opponent last week, CIU baseball hoped to keep the momentum going as they opened Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) play versus Milligan University (Tenn.) on Friday. The game was a rematch from the 2021 AAC Tournament, where CIU got the best of Milligan. However, the result was different in the conference opener as the Rams (4-9, 0-1 AAC) stumbled against the Buffs (11-3, 1-0) by a score of 4-2. 

Neither team was overly impressive at the plate as Milligan got on the board first, scoring two runs in the bottom of the second inning. However, CIU inched closer in the second inning as Kody Trujillo scored on a wild pitch after reaching base on a single. An error by the Rams infield in the bottom of the seventh added two unearned runs for the Buffs, and CIU entered the top of the ninth down 4-1. The Rams saw a glimmer of hope in the final inning as a Ward Hacklen single followed by a wild pitch brought the score to 4-2. However, two strikeouts ended the inning as CIU dropped their conference opener. 

BOX SCORE NOTES:

• The Rams recorded five hits a team but no RBI's
• Kody Trujillo and Ward Hacklen crossed the plate for the Rams' only two runs.
• Justin Parish pitched almost the entirety of the contest with six strikeouts, four hits, and two earned runs in seven innings. 

Up next:

CIU will continue their conference series with Milligan in a Saturday, Feb. 19 doubleheader beginning at noon.