CLEMMONS, N.C. - CIU softball made a quick northward jaunt for a midweek series on Wednesday. The Rams took on Carolina University (N.C.) and picked up the sweep over the Bruins. However, it was a tale of two games, with CIU coming from behind for an exciting 8-7 game one win contrasted with a dominant 11-1 victory in game two. The Rams move to 2-2 on the season with Wednesday's victories.
GAME ONE: CIU 8 CU 7: The Rams' offense was sluggish for the first four innings of the contest, and CIU trailed 2-1 heading into the fifth. The Rams would add a run in both the fifth and sixth but still trail 4-3 going into the final inning. It was the seventh when the bats got going for CIU as the Rams put up five runs thanks to several errors from the Bruins and a crucial double from Lauren Baker. CIU would hold on defensively in the bottom of the inning to eke out their first victory of the season.
Box Score Notes:
- Megan Stolzenbach was the only Ram to record multiple hits as she picked up two.
- Six Rams recorded at least one hit, with five players notching an RBI.
- Julia Thielen pitched six innings for CIU with five K's as Catie McGovern closed for the Rams putting away the Bruins in the final inning.
GAME TWO: CIU 11 CU 1: Miranda Fulmer tossed a no-hitter through the first nine batters of the game, finally giving up a single in the third. By then, it was already too late for the Bruins as the Rams scored seven unanswered runs through four innings. While Carolina did record several costly errors, the Rams bats were humming as Baker collected a two-RBI double, and Haylee Wilkerson picked up a two-RBI single during CIU's 7-0 stretch of runs. Fulmer just nearly missed picking up a shutout in her first start as the Bruins scored late, but it was not enough to keep CIU from run-ruling their opposition in five innings, 11-1.
Box Score Notes:
- Baker went 3-for-4 with two RBIs, while Wilkerson picked up three RBIs in three at-bats.
- Fulmer picked up six K's in five innings, allowing five total hits to start the season with a 1-0 record in the circle.
What Coach Sara Allen is saying: "Julia and Miranda had great starts and commanded the mound well. We didn't really come out fighting the first game, but I'm proud of the rally to pull out the win. The second game, we came out much more like ourselves and controlled the game from start to finish. If we keep playing like we did in the second contest, we'll have some very competitive games this season."
Up Next: CIU will hit the road for a doubleheader with Middle Georgia State beginning at 1 PM on Saturday, Feb. 11, in Cochran, Ga.
