COLUMBIA, S.C. - Following their series sweep of Kentucky Christian University, the Rams hosted Voorhees College (S.C.) in a seven-inning doubleheader. CIU won big in the first game and continued this momentum into the second to outscore the Knights 23-8 on the day.
GAME ONE: CIU 12 VU 4: Voorhees scratched in the first inning, but CIU responded with two runs of their own. The Tigers tied it up in the top of the second until the Rams busted it open with five runs in the bottom of the third. Carter Willis led the inning off with a double followed by a homer from Joshua Hernandez, his fifth of the season. Then, Emmanuel Maldonado scored on a sac fly from Chase Hadley, and Rafael Gonzales hit two more runners in. The Rams added two more in the fourth and one more in the fifth to lead 10-3. Voorhees scratched one more in the sixth, but CIU scored two more thanks to an RBI single from Robert Lybrand and a walk from Maldonado. The Knights scored one more in the top of the seventh but could not overcome the eight-run deficit.
Box Score Highlights:
- Hernandez led the team with three hits, while Gonzales and James Lovera notched two.
- Four other Rams collected a hit for a team total of 11.
- JT Stanley picked up the win, only allowing one hit and striking out five in three innings.
GAME TWO: CIU 15 VU 4: Voorhees scratched first again, and CIU was scoreless until the third inning. Willis scored Cole Cascio from a double, and then Price Alexander blasted a three-run shot to take the lead (4-1). The Knights pushed three across to tie up the game until the Rams opened things up with 11 runs in the bottom of the fourth. Maldonado picked up three RBI, Willis and Brandt Miller added two a piece, and Jennings Greene recorded one with two scoring on wild pitches. Phillip Hodges struck out the side in the top of the fifth to hold back the Tiger offense.
Box Score Highlights:
- Willis, Miller, Maldonado, and Alexander notched two hits each, with three others collecting one.
- Hodges recorded his first win, allowing only three hits in two innings with five strikeouts.
Up Next: CIU takes a week off before hosting Morris College on Wednesday, April 26th, for a doubleheader starting at 3 PM.