WEST POINT, GA. - CIU softball looked to build off their recent stint of games in an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) road series against the Point Skyhawks on Tuesday afternoon. The Rams entered the doubleheader 14-18-1, hoping to continue stringing wins together to help their position in the conference standings. The Rams managed to take game one over the Skyhawks 7-1 but fell in a heartbreaker in game two 4-3.

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

GAME ONE: CIU 7 PU 1: CIU scored the game's first run in the first inning to take an early lead. Both teams would put a run on the board in the second inning, with the Rams still holding a one-run lead (2-1). Then in the fourth inning, CIU would play complimentary softball, allowing no hits and scoring runs in each of their final four at-bats. As a result, the Rams cruised to a 7-1 win over Point. 

BOX SCORE NOTES: 

• Tanaya Ellis was a force at the plate, ending the game with three hits, an RBI, and two runs scored. 
• Dallas Mayers had a break-out day going a perfect 4-for-4.
• Mary Esterak pitched lights out in game one, allowing only three hits and one earned run. 

GAME TWO: CIU 3 PU 4: Neither team was able to produce runs in the early going of game two. The Rams would finally add the game's first run in the fourth inning to take the lead. After putting up one run in each of the next two innings, CIU looked poised to complete the series sweep being up 3-0. Unfortunately, Point would score a run in the sixth and then add two in the bottom of the seventh inning to steal game two from the Rams 4-3.

BOX SCORE NOTES:

• Josie Self hit her second home run of the season with a solo blast over the centerfield wall in the sixth inning.
• Macey Drye had two hits in game two to lead the Rams. 
• Julia Thielen pitched well for the Rams pitching six innings and allowing only four hits and one earned run. 

What Coach Sara Allen is saying: 
"We played 14 innings of really good softball today and I'm so proud of the team for it. Sometimes you come out on the wrong end of being on the road and that's what happened at the end of game two. Pitching, defense, hitting and base running all were excellent today. We had a cool ministry moment too - a staff member from Point played at another school in our conference and between games told us that she still had a note one of our players had handed her after our first conference game against them four years ago. It's encouraging to know that our team is having an impact for Christ on the field every time we step out there!"

Up Next: 
CIU will continue its road slate around the AAC with a series on Friday, April 1, against Truett McConnell University (Ga.), with the first game starting at 2 PM.