DAYTON, Tenn – After two difficult losses on Tuesday, CIU softball looked to hit the reset button against Bryan College (Tenn.) on Wednesday. The Lions won the pitching duel in the first game, beating the Rams 3-0 by capitalizing off of errors. The Rams found their offensive tempo in game two but ultimately lost in a heartbreaking walk-off in the bottom of the seventh.
GAME ONE: BC 3 CIU 0: Bryan made the Rams pay on two errors in the second, scoring two runs off of a double to take an early 2-0 lead. The Lions added one more off of a sac fly in the third inning, which turned out to be all they needed to win the game. CIU's best offensive inning was in the fourth, despite facing two early outs. They could not capitalize, however, and left three runners on base.
BOX SCORE NOTES:
GAME TWO: CIU racked up runs early and snapped a three-game shutout streak with runs coming in the first and second. The Rams had a big fifth inning, in part from RBI hits from Heaven Zamora (double) and Macey Drye (single), to take a 6-3 lead into the sixth inning. The Lions didn't back down though and added two runs in the bottom of the sixth. CIU then went 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh, and Bryan completed the comeback by scoring a run on a wild pitch to tie the game, then finishing with a walk-off single.
BOX SCORE NOTES:
- CIU's pitching staff gave up four walks.
- Eight Rams had hits in today's game, with Haylee Wilkerson having the best performance with a single and a triple.
- Three Rams collected doubles in game two.
Up Next: CIU will take the rest of spring break off before starting a six-game homestand, with Brenau University (Ga.) up first on Mar. 16. Games are scheduled for 2 PM and 4 PM.
