COLUMBIA, S.C. - CIU baseball pulled off one of their best wins at home of the season on Friday as they opened their home series with Bryan College (Tenn.) The Rams completed a come from behind win over the Lions (15-21, 10-9 AAC), knocking off their Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) foe 7-6. CIU moves to 17-25 overall and 6-16 in the AAC with the win.
The Rams fell behind 3-0, and the score stayed until the eighth innings. CIU's bats then exploded in the top of the eighth inning as the Rams tied the contest 3-3 on a Shane Hammonds single. Joshua Hernandez then gave the Rams the lead on a 3-RBI double, putting CIU up 6-3. The Rams entered the top of the ninth up 7-3 but would give up a three-run homer to the Lions, cutting the advantage to just one run. Brett Collins then came up clutch for CIU entering on the mound for the Rams and closed out the inning with a strikeout for the 7-6 victory.
BOX SCORE NOTES:
- James Lovera got the start for CIU in left field and made an instant impact going 2-for-4 with an RBI.
- Buddy Bleasdale was productive for CIU, with three hits in five at-bats after starting the contest 3-for-3.
- Joshua Hernandez recorded three RBI's in his only hit of the evening.
- Justin Parish started on the hill for the Rams as the senior recorded six strikeouts in six innings.
- Rodrigo Rodriguez and Brett Collins threw the final three innings for CIU as Rodriguez picked up the win and Collins recorded the save.
Up Next: CIU will continue its series on Saturday, April 9th, with a doubleheader beginning at noon.
