COLUMBIA, S.C. - CIU baseball took Miller Field on Monday afternoon against Carolina University (N.C.) for the NCCAA South Region championship Tournament title game. The Rams entered the day undefeated in the tournament but fell in game one to force a game two. After holding the Bruins scoreless in game two, CIU took home the blue banner for the second time since the program's inception in 2020.
Game One: Carolina 6 CIU 3: The Bruins tacked on four runs in the bottom of the first inning despite going hitless. The Rams scratched one in the third on a Carolina error and another in the fourth on an RBI from Emmanuel Maldonado (4-2). Carolina added on two more in the bottom of the fifth to extend their lead 6-2. A sac fly from Shane Hammonds in the top of the eighth brought the Rams within three. Despite getting two runners on in the top of the ninth, the Rams could not push any more runs across to drop game one of the championship series.
Box Score Highlights:
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Six Rams tallied a hit in the contest.
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The defense did not commit a single error and turned one double play.
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Tanner Bridges pitched 3.0 innings and allowed one hit and no runs.
Lopez and Gonzales turn a double play at second base.
Game Two: CIU 5 Carolina 0: The Rams took an early lead after an RBI single from Scott McDonough scored Colton Lopez. CIU added three more in the third, highlighted by a double from Graham Peeler, and another in the sixth after Maldonado scored on a wild pitch. Collin Otte took the mound in the seventh and blanked the Bruins to secure the Rams' win in the NCCAA South Region Championship.
Box Score Highlights:
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Lopez led the team with two hits, while Hammonds notched two RBI.
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Darius Hatchette-Dunn recorded the win, going 7.0 innings and allowing no runs.
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Otte recorded seven strikeouts in 3.0 innings to close out the game.
Hear from Shane Hammonds and Rafael Gonzales post-game:
Up Next: The Rams will begin play at the NCCAA World Series in Kansas CIty on May. 18 as the No.10 overall seed.
