KINGSPORT, TENN. - After dropping to the elimination bracket, CIU baseball (28-21) returned to action Wednesday morning against No. 9 seed Bluefield University (Va.). In a showdown of Rams, CIU emerged with a 4-1 victory to keep their postseason hopes alive.

CIU 4 Bluefield 1: CIU got on the board first in the bottom of the second as Kai Smith scored on a Bluefield throwing error. After Bluefield tied it in the fourth, the Rams quickly responded—Mason Turner crossed the plate on another defensive miscue, and Britton Morris brought in Eric Doyon with a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch to make it 3-1. Smith added an insurance run in the sixth, scoring on a passed ball. Drake Thames shut the door late, allowing just one hit over the final three innings to secure the Rams' spot in the postseason tournament.

Box Score Highlights: 

• Doyon was perfect at the plate, going 3-for-3 with an RBI.

• Bradley Garland and Turner also notched multiple hits. 

• Thames went the distance for a complete game, allowing just four hits and no earned runs. 

Up Next: The Rams are back in action tomorrow, Thursday, May 1 at 9 a.m. EST. They will take on the loser of No. 1 Reinhardt and No. 6 Pikeville.