WALESKA, Ga. - CIU men's baseball opened their final regular-season series of 2025 on Friday as they battled No. 5 Reinhardt University in an Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) doubleheader. Despite dropping games one and two, the Rams (28-19, 14-15 AAC) will have an opportunity for another NAIA top-25 win on Saturday.
Game One (RU 11 CIU 1): CIU took an early lead in the first inning with an RBI single by Graham Peeler, bringing Maurice Gomez home. However, Reinhardt quickly responded with a three-run bottom half, highlighted by a two-run homer from. The Eagles continued to build their lead, scoring in each of the next three innings and ultimately securing an 11-1 victory over the Rams.​
Box Score Highlights
- Peeler recorded an RBI single in the first inning, accounting for CIU's lone run.​ Peeler led the Rams in hits with two.
- CIU amassed a total of eight hits during the game.​
- Starting pitcher Matthew Garris was charged with the loss.​
- The Rams committed three errors in the field.
Game Two (RU 6 CIU 4): Reinhardt took an early lead with a two-run first inning, including a solo home run. CIU responded in the third inning when Daniel Sidoti reached on a fielder's choice, allowing Brandon Arnold to score on an error. The Rams continued to chip away at the deficit, with Mason Turner hitting a solo home run in the fourth inning. However, Reinhardt extended their lead in the fifth with a two-run single. CIU added two more runs in the sixth, but it wasn't enough to overcome the Eagles' lead.​
Box Score Notes
- Turner hit a solo home run in the fourth inning, his eighth of the season.​
- Sidoti contributed an RBI in the third inning.​
- Arnold and David Mora each scored a run for the Rams.​
- CIU recorded six hits in the game, including a double by Mora.​
- Starting pitcher Drake Thames allowed three earned runs over four innings with a strikeout.
Up Next: The Rams will play their final regular-season game tomorrow, Saturday, April. 26 finishing their series with Reinhardt in game three, set for 1:00 p.m. ET.