MILLIGAN COLLEGE, Tenn. - CIU baseball led for large swaths of their doubleheader with (RV) Milligan University on Saturday but ultimately faced heartbreak in both games falling 8-7 and 3-2. Milligan is currently the fourth-place team in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC), while the Rams currently sit in tenth, holding on to a spot in the AAC Baseball Tournament next month.
Game Two: MU 8 CIU 7: After trailing 3-0, Rams batters caught fire in the fourth. Singles from Aiden Pridgen and James Lovera brought home three runs, while Brandon Arnold added an RBI after being hit by a pitch. Scott McDonough then capped the seven-run inning, casually stepping up to the plate and sending a fly ball over the left-field wall to score three runs. The Buffs battled back to tie the game and send it into extra innings. The Rams succumbed to three quick outs in the top of the tenth and then gave up a run in the bottom of the inning to drop game two.
Box Score Highlights:
- With his three-run homer, McDonough recorded an impressive nine RBI on the week.
- Collin Greer added two hits for the Rams as CIU chalked up double-digit hits (10) yet again.
- Rodrigo Rodriguez saw one of his better outings on the mound as he pitched 1.1 innings in relief, allowing just one hit.
Game Three: MU 3 CIU 2: Greer's two-RBI single in the first frame proved to be the only run by either team through the first four innings. Deric Hanko looked sharp as the veteran right-handed pitcher diced up the Buffs. Hanko did allow two runs as CIU and Milligan entered the seventh knotted at 2-2. Colton Lopez singled in the top of the inning, but it was the Rams' only offensive burst as Milligan walked it off for the second time on Saturday in the bottom of the inning.
Box Score Highlights:
- CIU out-hit Milligan 7-6 as Lopez and Greer each tallied two hits.
- Hanko pitched six innings with five K's.
Up Next: The Rams travel to Voorhees University (S.C.) on Tuesday, April. 16 at 1:00 p.m. EST.
