COLUMBIA - CIU baseball stepped out of Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) play on Tuesday to play fellow AAC member Truett McConnell (Ga.) in a midweek non-conference single game. After losing to Truett McConnell (18-17) in the AAC Tournament last season, the Rams (17-26) were looking for redemption and would find it by dispatching the Bears 10-8 at Miller Field.
Runs came early and often for both teams as CIU trailed 5-4 after one inning. Both squad's lineups would add two more runs in the second as CIU still hung behind 7-6. However, the games' turning point came on a Jan Maldonado homer in the fifth inning, which tied the contest at 7-7. CIU then capitalized on the momentum to score three runs in the seventh on miscues from the Bears. Rodrigo Rodriguez and Brett Collins closed TMU out in the final two innings as CIU notched the 10-8 win.
BOX SCORE NOTES:
- Carter Willis tallied his first home run of the season with a shot to right field in the second inning.
- Jan Maldonado stuffed the stat going 2-for-4 with three RBI's and a home run.
- Shane Hammonds was serviceable at the plate as he had two hits in four at-bats, including a double.
- On the mound, James Goff received the win, and Brett Collins picked up the save. Hunter Garris was highly effective in his time on the hill allowing no hits during his two innings pitched.
What Coach Jonathan Johnson is saying: Another great team victory today. Tremendous defense from Jan Maldonado, Kody Trujillo, and Grant Bodison and the bats continue to heat up.
Up Next: CIU will head to Grayson, Ky., for a series with Kentucky Christian on Thursday, April. 14.
