COLUMBIA, S.C. - CIU softball (17-21, 10-12 AAC) made the short trip across town to face rival Columbia College (16-24, 11-13 AAC) in an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) matchup. The Rams controlled game one from the start, earning a 4-0 shutout win. In game two, a three-run sixth inning sparked a comeback, lifting CIU to a series sweep over the Koalas.

Game One: CIU 4 Columbia 0: Caydon Thompson quickly put CIU in front of their cross-town rival with a two-run homer in the first. Both teams went down quietly in the following innings, but Columbia threatened with runners in scoring position in the bottom of the fourth, but a flyout to Macey Drye left the Koalas stranded. Thompson singled in the top of the fifth to score Dallas Mayers and extend the Rams' lead to 3-0. A groundout from Carmella Korte in the sixth scored another to add to CIU's advantage. Columbia put runners on in the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings, but both frames ended with strikeouts for Abby Ragan. 

Box Score Highlights: 

• Thompson led the team with two hits and three RBI. 

• Mayers, Alexuz Barnes, and Sophia Noriega also recorded a hit. 

• Ragan struck out seven in 7.0 IP with no earned runs. 

Game Two: CIU 3 Columbia 1: The Koalas struck first in game two, scoring a run in the bottom of the second. From here, it became a pitcher's duel until the sixth inning. The Rams scored three runs off five hits, including an RBI double from Abigail Guthrie, to take a 3-1 lead. Isabella Davis sat down the final six Koala batters in order to secure the comeback victory for the Rams. 

Box Score Highlights: 

• Korte, Noriega, and Guthrie notched two hits. 

• Miranda Fulmer and Davis allowed just two hits in 7.0 IP. 

• Mayers extended her reached-base streak to nine after today's doubleheader. 

Up Next: The Rams head to Knoxville, Tenn., to take on (RV) Johnson University on Thursday, April 17, at 3 and 5 p.m. EST.