COLUMBIA, S.C. - After a stretch of road games, CIU baseball returned home to start their conference series against Union College (Ky.). The Rams have had a rocky start to Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) but are looking to right the ship in their series with the Bulldogs. Despite a ninth-inning push, CIU fell 18-16 in game one to Union.
Union got on the board after a first-inning homer, but the Rams responded in the bottom of the inning after an RBI single from Britton Morris. The Bulldogs added two more runs in the third to take the lead until CIU pushed six runs across in the same inning, highlighted by two-RBI doubles from Joshua Hernandez and James Lovera. Union tied things back up in the fourth (7-7) thanks to a two-run home run. The Bulldogs added ten more runs to their score between the sixth and eighth innings, while the Rams could only push across three (17-10). Union tacked on another run in the top of the ninth to give them an eight-run advantage. CIU pushed back in the bottom of the ninth, scoring six runs off of one hit and eight walks, but a flyout with bases loaded would end the game 18-16.
Box Score Highlights:
- Carter Willis was perfect at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a walk.
- Five Rams notched one hit tonight while they totaled 14 base on balls.
- Justin Parish got the start and collected five strikeouts tonight.
Up Next: CIU will have to bounce back quickly as they take the field at 12 and 3 PM tomorrow, Mar. 11, for the last two games in the series against Union.
