ATHENS, Tenn. - CIU baseball headed to Tennessee Wesleyan University (10-3, 3-1 AAC) to face the NAIA's No. 1 ranked Bulldogs on Thursday to begin their Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) series. The Rams entered the afternoon hoping for a repeat of their 2021 trip to Athens when they defeated the No. 1 Bulldogs 2-1 in an AAC series. CIU can still accomplish the feat despite falling 10-6 in game one.

Game One: TWU 10 CIU 6: The Rams trailed 10-2 heading into the sixth inning but would show some fight. CIU turned to graduate transfer Noah Davis, who homered to right field in the top of the sixth, scoring Daniel Sidoti. The Rams added two more in the seventh after Maurice Gomez reached on a single and then scored on a groundout, followed by a Sidoti's single to bring the score to 10-6. The Rams put two runners on base in the top of the ninth but were unable to capitalize, ultimately falling by four runs.

Box Score Highlights:

• Hunter Cherry and Matthew Garris combined to throw 4.2 innings of relief without giving up a run.
• Gomez continues to have an excellent start to his CIU career as the senior transfer picked up three hits in five at-bats.
• Sidoti went 2-for-4 with two RBIs on the afternoon.
• The Rams recorded ten hits against one of the better pitching staffs in the NAIA on Thursday.

Up Next: CIU will look to topple the Bulldogs tomorrow, Feb. 22, with a doubleheader beginning at noon.