BLUEFIELD, Va. - After a last-minute schedule change, CIU took the field early Friday morning for game one in the series against the Bluefield Rams. CIU took the lead in the fifth inning and held onto it for the remainder of the contest to take game one 11-8. CIU improves to 5-13 overall and 2-5 in Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) play. 

Game One: CIU 11 BU 8: Both teams went scoreless in the first four innings of the contest, but CIU took the lead in the top of the fifth on a Scott McDonough RBI single. They added two more in the sixth, but Bluefield matched that frame to trail 3-2. McDonough hit a two-run shot, followed by doubles from Shane Hammonds and Collin Greer to extend their lead to 6-2. Bluefield came within one (6-5) after a three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh. CIU added five runs in the top of the eighth, highlighted by a two-RBI single from Graham Peeler and a two-RBI double from Colton Lopez, for an 11-6 lead. Bluefield responded with two runs of their own in the bottom of the frame, but neither team would score in the ninth inning to give CIU the 11-8 victory. 

Box Score Highlights: 

• Kai Smith, McDonough, and Peeler led the team with three hits, while McDonough recorded three RBI. 

• The Rams tallied 17 hits for a season-high.

• Matthew Garris started and allowed five hits with five strikeouts in five innings of work. Garret Brust took the win, while Collin Otte got the save. 

What Coach Jonathan Johnson is saying, "Matthew Garris had an outstanding outing today, and the bats kept Bluefield on their heels. It's fun to watch these young men play with confidence."