COLUMBIA - Impressive performances from CIU baseball's pitching staff was the theme on Saturday as the Rams split a doubleheader with Milligan (Tenn.) to win another Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) series. The Rams (26-18, 11-13 AAC) took down the Buffs 6-5 in the first game of the DH and then fell to their conference foe 3-1 in the final game of the afternoon.

Game Two (CIU 6 MU 5) - Starting pitcher Noah Davis was the story of game one as the graduate transfer pitched a no-hitter through five innings. Davis would exit in the top of the sixth after only giving up one hit. Singles from Colton Lopez and Daniel Sidoti in the bottom of the inning helped CIU extend its current advantage to 6-1. The Buffs responded with a grand slam at the top of the eighth, which brought the score to 6-5. Michael Meilinger would enter the game in relief for CIU in the same inning to hold the Buffs at bay for the rest of the contest.

Box Score Notes:

• Davis recorded four strikeouts in 5.1 innings while giving up one hit.
• Mason Turner and Sidoti each recorded two hits and two RBIs.
• Maurice Gomez, Bradley Garland, and Kai Smith all picked up two hits. Tre Williams recorded the Ram's only double of the game.
• Meilinger chalked up two strikeouts in 1.1 innings.

Game Three (MU 3 CIU 1): CIU would get on the board first in the game with a Sidoti sacrifice fly. Drake Thames helped preserve the lead on the mound, but Milligan would add three runs in the fourth. CIU loaded the bases in the seventh inning but was unable to capitalize.

Box Score Notes:

• Garland went 2-for-3 at the plate in game three.
• Thames pitched six innings with nine strikeouts. Thames currently leads the Rams in total strikeouts with 51.

Up Next: CIU will host Kentucky Christian University in an AAC series-opening doubleheader on Wednesday, April 16. with the first pitch slated for 4 p.m. ET.