COLUMBIA, S.C. - On a rainy Friday night with soggy field conditions, the Rams opened a three-game Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) series against Bryan College (Tenn.). Despite battling through the wet conditions and collecting 10 hits, the Rams fell 20-7 in the series opener. 

Game One: Bryan 20 CIU 7: Bryan pushed across a run in the first inning before capitalizing on defensive miscues in the third to extend its lead. The Rams, however, remained aggressive at the plate and broke through in the fourth inning. Corbin Wright started the rally with a single, and after Jennings Greene reached on a bunt base hit, Aiden Pomnitz laced a two-RBI double to left center to cut into the deficit. The Lions answered in the fifth, but CIU responded once again in the bottom half. Eli Musgraves singled to spark the inning, and with the bases loaded, Greene was hit by a pitch to force in a run. Hunter Cheslak followed with an RBI single up the middle, trimming the margin to 11-4 and keeping the Rams within reach.

CIU continued to apply pressure in the sixth. After a leadoff baserunner reached, Ian D'Amico ripped his second double of the game to right field. The Rams capitalized on wild pitches and a productive groundout by Musgraves to plate two more runs and make it 11-6. Bryan added insurance late, but CIU continued to fight into the final frame. In the ninth, Chance Weathersbee worked a walk and advanced into scoring position before Quinn Jackson delivered a sacrifice fly to bring home the Rams' seventh run.

D'Amico and Musgraves each collected two hits to lead the offense, while Pomnitz drove in two runs. Cheslak and David Mora also added two hits. Miller Stuck and Matthew Garris combined for 11 strikeouts. 

Up Next: CIU concludes the series against Bryan College (Tenn.) tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 28th, with a doubleheader starting at 12 P.M. EST.