LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - CIU baseball appeared poised for their first win in program history over No 11. Georgia Gwinnett on Friday but were upended by a late spurt from the Grizzlies 12-9. CIU has played the perennial NAIA power in each of their three seasons of existence but has yet to beat the team from Georgia. The Rams move to 19-28 on the season with the loss.
The Rams pulled ahead 5-0 before the Grizzlies were able to muster a run in the third. CIU would not take their foot off the gas as they extended the lead to 9-3 in the sixth. However, the tide turned in the seventh as the Grizzlies rattled off nine straight runs. CIU was unable to overcome the Georgia Gwinnett rally as they fell in game one of the series.
BOX SCORE NOTES:
- Justin Parish got the start and held the Grizzlies to just two earned runs through the first six innings.
- Shane Hammonds had an impressive stat line as he went 3-for-5 with a double and two RBI's.
- Grant Bodison had three hits in five at-bats with two RBI's.
- As a team, CIU had six different players record a hit.
Up Next: The Rams continue their series with the Grizzlies on Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at noon.