COLUMBIA, S.C. - CIU baseball split its final two games of the series against Milligan University on Friday afternoon, earning a 10-9 victory in game two before falling 8-0 in the finale. Game two win marked CIU's first Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) victory of the season, highlighted by a multi-home run performance and clutch relief pitching.
Game Two: CIU 10 MU 9: CIU struck first with two runs in the second inning, highlighted by an RBI single from Kai Smith. After Milligan answered with six runs across the third and fourth innings, the Rams responded in dramatic fashion in the bottom of the fourth. Following a series of defensive miscues by the Buffaloes, David Mora launched a grand slam to left field, tying the game at 6-6 and swinging the momentum back in CIU's favor. Milligan briefly regained control with two runs in the fifth, but the Rams answered again in the sixth. Quinn Jackson delivered an RBI single before Daniel Sidoti crushed a three-run home run to left, giving CIU a 10-8 lead. The long ball marked the first game this season in which the Rams hit multiple home runs.
On the mound, Matthew Garris earned the win in relief, tossing 2.1 innings and allowing just one run. Collin Otte secured his first save of the season, striking out three over two innings of work. With his outing, Otte now leads the CIU pitching staff with 21 strikeouts on the year.
K. Smith finished 3-for-5 with an RBI and a stolen base, while Jackson added two hits and an RBI. Mora drove in four runs with his grand slam, and Sidoti finished with three RBIs. The Rams totaled eight hits in the win and held off a late push from Milligan to close out the one-run victory.
Game Three: MU 8 CIU 0: Milligan struck in the first inning with an RBI groundout before adding another run in the third. The Buffaloes extended their lead in the fourth on an RBI double down the left field line, then broke the game open in the fifth with a two-run home run to center to make it 5-0. CIU had opportunities throughout the night but stranded six runners on base. The Rams' best chance came in the first inning when K. Smith singled and advanced into scoring position, and again in the sixth when D. Sidoti doubled to left field. However, Milligan's pitching staff held CIU scoreless.
K. Smith led the Rams at the plate, going 2-for-3, while Sidoti and Ethan Hynicka added one hit apiece. On the mound, Manuel Geisel tossed six innings and struck out six, allowing five earned runs, and Julian Rivera worked the seventh in relief. Corbin Wright anchored first base with a series of timely defensive plays in both games.
Up Next: The Rams step out of conference play to host Voorhees University (S.C.) on Tuesday, Feb. 24, with the doubleheader starting at 5 P.M. EST.
