MILLIGAN COLLEGE, Tenn. - CIU baseball wrapped up their first Appalachian Conference series of the season on Saturday as they took part in a doubleheader with Milligan University (Tenn.). The Rams were hoping to get back on track after losing to Milligan (13-3, 3-0 AAC) on Friday but could not right the ship in Saturday's doubleheader as they dropped game one 8-4 and game two 10-1. With the losses, CIU moves to 4-11 overall and 0-3 in the AAC.
GAME ONE: MILLIGAN 8 CIU 4: Britton Morris made the most of his first at-bat this season as he gave the Rams a one-run lead with an RBI-single in the first inning. The Rams gave up five runs in the first and second innings but added one of their own in the top third off of another Morris RBI-single. Down 7-2 a seventh-inning RBI-double from Buddy Bleasdale closed the gap slightly. The Rams added a run off of an error in the top of ninth, but then a ground out on the next at-bat gave Milligan the win.
BOX SCORE NOTES:
- Freshman Britton Morris saw his first action this season going 2-for-4 with two RBI's
- Peyton Evans started the game on the mound for CIU, recording five strikeouts and two earned runs.
GAME TWO: MILLIGAN 10 CIU 1: Once again, CIU struck in the top of the first inning after Carter Willis recorded a base hit and Buddy Bleasdale sent Willis home with an RBI single. Then after giving up several runs, CIU had another scoring opportunity in the top of the fifth inning. Britton Morris recorded a double, and an Aaron Hood single pushed Morris to third. However, Hood was thrown out on the next at-bat on a fielder's choice that retired the side. CIU gave up five runs in the bottom of the sixth as they ultimately succumbed 10-1 in the seven-inning game.
BOX SCORE NOTES:
- Freshman Britton Morris continued to impress in game two with two hits and a double.
- Buddy Bleasdale recorded his second RBI of the doubleheader, going 1-for-3 as he reached base on balls once.
What Coach Jonathan Johnson is saying:
I am disappointed with our lack of leadership early in the season. We have a lot of guys getting out of the gate too slow. I'm hoping that my upperclassman will begin to lead by example through this challenging stretch, and this doesn't have to become an upperclassman-led team Playing this poorly will not continue. One way or another, it will turn around."
UP NEXT:
The Rams have a quick turnaround as they face Morris College (S.C.) in a doubleheader at home beginning at 1 PM on Monday, February 21st.