COLUMBIA, S.C. - After a lengthy hiatus from Miller Field, CIU baseball finally returned to the Columbia campus to begin a series with St. Andrews University (N.C.) Friday night. Despite the Rams' best efforts, St. Andrews (27-8, 12-4 AAC) steadily pulled away throughout the contest as ultimately, CIU fell 12-1 to the Knights. The loss moves CIU to 13-24 overall and 5-15 in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC).

A 3-0 first inning from the Knights opened the game up as CIU was unable to stop the bleeding as the evening progressed. Several hits from the Rams seemingly gave CIU chances, but the home team could not capitalize. Finally, Ward Hacklen reached home plate on a Kody Trujillo sacrifice fly in the eighth inning. The run ended the Knight's shutout hopes as the game concluded with a St. Andrews 12-1 victory. 

BOX SCORE NOTES:

• Ward Hacklen had a productive day for CIU, going 3-for-5 with a double while scoring the Rams' lone run. 
• Despite only scoring one run, CIU had six different players record a hit. The Rams notched a serviceable eight hits as a team. 
• Justin Parish threw the first five innings of the game, picking up five strikeouts while giving up two earned runs. Mason Lynch finished the evening on the hill with four strikeouts in two innings. 

Up Next:

CIU will wrap their weekend bout with the Knights tomorrow, Saturday, April. 2, with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.