GRAYSON, Ky. - CIU baseball headed westward for their final series of the 2022 season. The Rams (18-27, 8-18 AAC) took on Kentucky Christian (25-20, 5-18 AAC) in a series-opening doubleheader on Thursday and will play game three on Saturday. Both games were high-scoring affairs as CIU dropped game one 11-7, then pulled out game two in exciting fashion, 8-7.
GAME ONE: KCU 11 CIU 7: The Rams fell behind 4-1 but bounced back to take a 5-4 lead on a Joshua Hernandez three-RBI double in the fourth inning. The Rams found themselves deadlocked at 5-5 before another double broke the tie as Shane Hammonds doubled to left field, driving in Kody Trujillo. Britton Morris extended CIU's advantage on a home run in the seventh as CIU seemingly held control up 7-5. However, six unanswered runs doomed CIU in the final two innings as the Knights bested the Rams 11-7.
BOX SCORE NOTES:
GAME TWO: CIU 8 KCU 7: The Rams trailed for almost the entirety of the seven-inning contest and entered the sixth inning down 7-2. A double from Jan Malandro spurred on a Ram's flurry of runs as CIU cut the deficit down to 7-6. CIU tied the game in the seventh on a Shane Hammonds's double and then snagged the lead on a Maldonado RBI-single. Rodrigo Rodriguez came in to relieve Tyler Parker in the bottom of the seventh and closed the Knights out, notching the save in the process.
BOX SCORE NOTES:
- Jan Maldonado was superb, going 3-for-3 with two RBI's.
- Shane Hammonds picked up where he left off in game one hitting .750 once again while recording an RBI.
- James Lovera and Price Alexander each had meaningful at-bats as they both recorded a hit as pinch hitters.
- Tyler Parker and Rodrigo Rodriguez pitched the final three innings for the Rams, holding the Knights to just two hits. Parker received the win as Rodriguez notched the save.
Up Next: CIU will play a game that will hold much importance in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) standings as they finish their series with Kentucky Christian on Saturday, April 16. at 11 a.m.
