COLUMBIA, S.C. - CIU baseball took a much-needed break from Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) play on Wednesday for a midweek doubleheader with Aquinas College (Mich.). Aquinas is a fellow NAIA program hailing from the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference. A plethora of runs were scored in both games as CIU took down the Saints (6-11) by a score of 19-11 in game one and 9-2 in game two. With the wins, CIU moves to 9-17 on the season.
GAME ONE: CIU 19 AC 11: CIU jumped out to a 10-0 lead over the Saints; those ten runs were highlighted by a Robert Bell grand slam in the first inning. Tyler Parker pitched a no-hitter through the first three innings before finally giving up a single in the fourth. Trailing 10-0, Aquinas bounced back with a six-run fourth inning, but CIU answered with a four-runs in the bottom of the fourth. Each team gave up five runs the rest of the way as CIU scored their season-high in runs with 19.
BOX SCORE NOTES:
- Robert Bell hit the second grand slam of his career at Miller Field as the senior went 1-for-1 with four RBI's.
- Ward Hacklen went 3-for-3 with three RBI's while also reaching base on balls once.
- Carter Willis and Brinton Morris each had two doubles and two RBIs.
- As a team, CIU had a season-high eight doubles.
- Tyler Parker picked up the win on the mound while freshman Gavin Latham impressed in his varsity debut, allowing no hits and recording five strikeouts in two innings.
GAME TWO: CIU 9-2: It was a pitching duel through the first two innings, but Aquinas' defense succumbed first as the CIU bats exploded in the third inning. Price Alexander got the scoring going with an RBI-double which was followed by an RBI-single from Joshua Hernandez. A series of errors from the Saints grew the Ram's advantage, and CIU led 8-0 after three. Once again, a CIU pitcher kept Aquinas hitless through three innings as Hunter Hoff finally gave up a single in the fourth. The Rams were unable to get the shutout but picked the 9-2 win.
BOX SCORE NOTES:
- Ward Hacklen shined once again, going 2-for-4 with three RBI's and a double.
- Price Alexander notched a double and a RBI as he went 1-for-2.
- Hunter Hoff recorded the win as he went all seven innings with four strikeouts and just one earned run.
What Coach Jonathan Johnson is saying:
"It was great to see what our lineup can do when 1-9 take disciplined approaches at the plate. The walks, hits, and runs scored were a direct result of that discipline."
Up Next:
CIU will have a very quick turnaround as they open an AAC series with Union College in Barbourville, Kentucky, tomorrow, March 10. at 11 a.m.