CLEVELAND, Ga. - CIU baseball split the Saturday afternoon doubleheader with Truett McConnell University for their fifth Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) win. The Rams narrowly lost the first game 6-7 but rebounded and easily took game three 7-0. This is CIU's second series win of the season as they improve to 12-11 overall and 5-7 in AAC play.
GAME TWO: TMU 7 CIU 6: The game's first four runs came from Tre Williams, who recorded an RBI fielders choice in the first inning and a three-run shot in the third. The Bears responded with three of their own in the third after one hit and two errors from the Rams. Both teams went down quietly until a double from Bradley Garland scored Jordan Fricks in the sixth (5-3). The Bears tacked one run on in the bottom of the frame and three more in the seventh to take a 7-5 lead. A single from Garland in the eighth brought the Rams within one run in the eighth. CIU loaded the bases in the ninth, but a double play ended the contest in favor of TMU.
Box Score Highlights:
-
Kai Smith was perfect at the plate, going 4-for-4.
-
Garland and Mason Turner recorded two hits.
-
Williams led the team with four RBI.
GAME THREE: CIU 7 TMU 0: A double from Turner scored two runs in the first to quickly put the Rams on top. CIU added three more in the third, thanks to a Graham Peeler two-run homer and a Bears' error (5-0). Peeler pushed another run across for the Rams in the fourth, and they added one more in the fifth on another error from Truett. Drake Thames allowed just one hit in the final three innings to secure the series win for CIU.
Box Score Highlights:
-
Peeler led the team with three hits and three RBI.
-
Turner recorded two hits and two RBI.
-
Drake Thames allowed two hits with four strikeouts in seven innings of work.
Up Next: CIU takes on Johnson University (Tenn.) next weekend, March 14-15, with the first pitch slated for 4 p.m. EST on Friday.