SUMTER, S.C. - With a last-minute schedule change, the Rams loaded up and headed to Riley Park to take on the Morris College Hornets on Tuesday evening. CIU was looking to pick up a win before Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) play began this weekend. The Hornets took game one, but the Rams bounced back to split the series and pick up their first win of the season. 

Game One 

Morris 11 CIU 5: The Hornets got on the board in the bottom of the first inning from an error and a hit but added three more to take a 4-0 lead after two. CIU cut their lead in half after a triple from James Lovera and a double from Jackson Petisce pushed two across home plate. The Rams tied up the game in the top of the fourth after a groundout scored Graham Peeler. Morris responded with a run in the bottom of the inning to take the lead back and then tacked on two more in the bottom of the fifth. Rafael Gonzales singled to left field to drive Emmanuel Maldonado in, but the Rams still trailed 7-5. Morris added four runs in the bottom of the sixth to lead 11-5, but three consecutive outs in the top of the seventh shut down any chance of a Rams comeback. 

Box Score Highlights: 

• Peeler and Gonzales led the Rams with two hits.

• CIU had four extra-base hits–three doubles and a triple. 

• Darius Dunn-Hatchette closed the game for the Rams, striking out five in 1.2 innings pitched. 

Game Two

CIU 10 Morris 5: CIU pushed two runs across in the first inning thanks to a sac fly from Connor Shealy and a double from Collin Greer. The Hornets responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the first but still trailed 2-1. Both teams went scoreless for the next three innings, but the Rams broke the ice when a groundout from Shane Hammonds added another run to extend their lead to 3-1. CIU continued this momentum into the top of the sixth where they added three more runs; however, five walks and a hit by pitch from the Rams' pitching staff allowed the Hornets to add four runs to cut the lead to 6-5. CIU responded with four of their own, highlighted by a two-RBI Shealy double, to extend the lead 10-5. The Hornets' leadoff batter got on in the bottom of the seventh after an error, but three outs in a row handed CIU their first victory of the season. 

Box Score Highlights:

• Lovera had a 1.000 OB% this game, with four walks and a double. 

• Greer and Gonzales led the Rams with two hits, while Shealy had three RBI. 

• Brayden Adams struck out five, allowing no runes and one hit in 4.1 innings.