COLUMBIA, S.C. - CIU softball opened the 2026 season in emphatic fashion on Friday afternoon, sweeping Salem College in a season-opening doubleheader at home. Despite chilly conditions, the Rams' offense was locked in from the start, combining for 20 runs on 22 hits while allowing just three runs across two run-rule victories. CIU easily cruised to 10-2 and 10-1 victories to begin the year 2-0.
Game One: CIU 10 Salem 2: After a three-up, three-down opening frame, the Rams took a 3-0 lead after three hits, including a leadoff double from Abby Guthrie. CIU extended their lead to 5-0 in the second inning with a Carmella Korte two-RBI double. Raleigh Stewart helped extend CIU's lead to 8-0 after three with a two-RBI double of her own. Both teams went scoreless in the fourth, but Salem added two of their own to cut the lead to 8-2 in the top of the fifth. With two outs in the sixth, Kami Meekins hit a double to score two runs and secure a 10-2 Rams run-rule win.Â
Stewart and Lilli Petty led the team with three hits, while Stewart led with three RBI. Sydney Williams recorded two hits in the team's combined 14. Isabella Davis picked up her first win of the season, allowing two hits and no runs with two strikeouts in 4.0 innings of work. Â
Game Two: CIU 10 Salem 1: The Rams' bats stayed hot going into game two, scoring four runs, including back-to-back doubles from Petty and Hannah Murphy. Both teams went scoreless in the second, but the Spirits scratched one in the top of the third (4-1). CIU added six in the bottom of the fourth, highlighted by home runs from Petty and Caydon Thompson. Gabriela Czuczuk held Salem scoreless in the fifth, leading CIU to their second run-rule victory of the day.Â
Thompson and Petty led the team with two hits and three RBI each, including homers from both of them. The Rams recorded five extra base hits with three doubles and two home runs. Czuczuk recorded the first win of her career with six strikeouts and one hit in 5.0 innings.Â
Up Next: The Rams hit the road to take on Voorhees University (S.C.) tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 7th, with a doubleheader beginning at 12 P.M.