KINGSPORT, Tenn. - CIU baseball took the field early this morning in the Appalachian Athletic (AAC) Conference Tournament play-in game against Point University (Ga.) in hopes of starting a deep postseason run. The Rams and Skyhawks have gotten very familiar over the last several days as CIU closed the regular season with a series against Point over the weekend, winning the series 2-1.
CIU 3 PU 2: It was a pitcher's duel for most of the game, with only five hits between the two teams until the fourth inning. Point scratched first after an error, which CIU did not respond to until the eighth inning. Rafael Gonzales and Joshua Hernandez hit RBI singles to take a 2-1 lead over the Skyhawks in the bottom of the eighth. However, Point tied up the game (2-2) in the top of the ninth. The Rams weren't going down without a fight as CIU responded immediately as Britton Morris led off the bottom of the inning with a single, followed by pinch-hitter Emmanuel Maldonado being walked. Moments later, a single from James Lovera would score Maldonado as CIU seized the 3-2 victory.
Box Score Highlights:
- Justin Parish was lights out for the Rams, allowing only five hits and one earned run in seven innings. Dean Seelbach picked up the win, striking out three in two innings.
- Lovera, Hernandez, Carter Willis, and Price Alexander all notched two hits a piece.
- Four other Rams collected one, allowing CIU to outhit Point 12-6.
What Coach Jonathan Johnson is saying:
"The team has come a long way in the past few weeks. As a coach, I was worried they had lost their desire to compete. They have done nothing but prove me wrong the past few weeks. It was a privilege to have a front-row seat watching them do their thing today!"
Up Next: CIU keeps their season alive and will take on No. 2 Reinhardt University (Ga.) tomorrow, May 3, at 4 PM.
