hisCOLUMBIA, S.C. - After a long time away from the friendly confines of Miller Field, CIU Baseball played their 2022 home opener on Tuesday as they battled Toccoa Falls College (Ga.). The Screaming Eagles (3-6) are a familiar opponent for CIU (3-6) as the Rams played Toccoa Falls both in the NCCAA South Region Tournament and in the NCCAA National Championship Tournament last season. The Rams have never lost to the Screaming Eagles, and that did not change on Tuesday as CIU battled for a 3-0 win in game one and a 5-4 win in game two. Notably, the second game was the first game played at night on Miller Field as stadium lights were installed at the facility this past summer.

GAME ONE: CIU 3 TFC 0 (7 INNINGS): The game was a pitching duel up until the fourth inning when Ward Hacklen hammered one over the left-field wall to put CIU up 1-0. Then in the fifth inning, Buddy Bleasdale recorded an RBI-double scoring both Kody Trujillo and Carter Willis. The Rams pitching staff kept the Screaming Eagles off the board for the final two innings asIU notched their first shutout of 2022. 

BOX SCORE NOTES: 

• CIU put four different players on the mound as Noah Moody received the starting nod. Moody led the Rams in strikeouts with two while picking up the win.
• Peyton Evans and Brett Collins pitched a combined three innings with neither player yielding a hit. 
• Ward Hacklen went 1-for-2 at the plate and recorded the first homerun at Miller Field this season.
• CIU was walked a total of eight times with five different players reaching base on balls.

GAME TWO: CIU 5 TFC 4 (7 INNINGS): James Lovera got the scoring going for CIU with an RBI single in the bottom of the first. After CIU gave up a run Ward Hacklen increased the Rams advantage with an RBI double. In the next at-bat Buddy Bleasdale followed Hacklen up with an RBI double of his own to put CIU up 3-1. Price Alexander added an RBI single in the fourth, but Toccoa Falls answered, tying the game at 4-4 in the top of the seventh inning. CIU then found themselves still deadlocked at 4-4 in the bottom of the eight with Joshua Hernandez at-bat and the bases loaded. The veteran's composure then forced four balls as Hernandez was walked, giving CIU the walk-off win. 

BOX SCORE NOTES:

• Joshua Hernandez had a solid outing going 2-of 3 at the plate while reaching base on balls twice. 
• Buddy Bleasdale was again a major part of CIU's offensive production as he went 2-of-4 with an RBI double. 
• The Rams put six different players on the mound as the pitching staff combined for ten total strikeouts.
• Matthew Flanagan received the start notching a strikeout in his lone inning on the mound. 

What Coach Jonathan Johnson is saying:

"Two tough battles against a scrappy Toccoa Falls team. It was good to have a few games that our pitching carried us. We still have a lot to improve on as a team, but always a great day when you get two in the win column."

Up next:

CIU has a tall task this coming Friday, Feb. 11, as they head to Georgia to take on (RV) Indiana Tech at 11 AM (@ Reinhardt University) and No. 19 Middle Georgia State University at 5 PM (@LakePoint Sports Complex).