MILLIGAN COLLEGE, TENN. - CIU softball (14-16, 7-7 AAC) narrowly fell in game one against Milligan University (14-12, 8-10 AAC) on Saturday afternoon but bounced back to take game two after a four-run second inning to stay .500 in Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) play.
Game One: Milligan 1 CIU 0: It was a pitcher's duel in game one, with neither pitcher relinquishing a hit until the third inning. Carmella Korte was the first base runner for the Rams, but she was left stranded. Sophia Noriega singled in the fifth and Caydon Thompson in the sixth, but the Rams could not move them around. Abby Ragan did not allow another hit until the sixth, but the Buffs took advantage of a previous walk to score the first run of the day. Noriega reached in the top of the seventh on a walk, but a double play from Milligan ended the contest in favor of the home team.
Box Score Highlights:
Game Two: CIU 7 Milligan 3: The Rams took the lead in the second inning with four runs, highlighted by a two RBI double from Tristan Phillips. CIU tacked on another run in the third after Korte scored on a fielder's choice (5-0). Stolzenbach added another for the Rams on a solo shot in the fourth. The Buffs responded with a run in the bottom of the frame off their first hit of the contest and then added two more in the sixth off a two-run home run (6-3). Dallas Mayers singled up the middle in the top of the seventh to score one more run for CIU and Isabella Davis sat the Buffs down in order to take game two.
Box Score Highlights:
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Mayers led the team with three hits, while Korte recorded two.
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Stolzenbach, Noriega, and Phillips led with two RBI.
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Davis picked up her seventh win of the season, allowing just two hits in 7.0 IP.
Up Next: The Rams travel to Grayson, Ky., to take on Kentucky Christian University on Friday, April 4, at 1 and 3 p.m. EST.
