COLUMBIA, S.C.- CIU baseball split Saturday's doubleheader with No. 9 Tennessee Wesleyan, earning a game-two victory before dropping the series finale. The Rams showed resilience at the plate, highlighted by a late-inning surge in the win, but were unable to overcome a big inning in the final game as they fell in the series 1-2. With the results, CIU now sits at 9-8 in Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) play.

Game Two: CIU 12 TWU 8: The Bulldogs took advantage of a pair of pitching miscues to grab an early lead in the first inning. CIU threatened in the bottom half, loading the bases with two outs, but a groundout ended the frame. Tennessee Wesleyan added two more runs in the second, but the Rams answered in a big way, taking a 5-3 lead behind a three-RBI double from Daniel Sidoti and a two-run home run from Corbin Wright.

CIU continued to build momentum in the third as Kai Smith delivered a two-out single to drive in two runs and extend the lead to 7-3. The Rams added another run in the fourth when Aaron Guthrie singled to score, pushing the advantage to 8-3. Tennessee Wesleyan responded with four runs in the sixth to cut the deficit to one and added another in the seventh to even the score.

With the game tied late, the Rams came through in the eighth inning. Aiden Pomnitz, Jennings Greene, and Hunter Cheslak each delivered with two outs, combining to score four runs and give CIU a 12-8 lead heading into the ninth. Collin Otte closed the door in the final frame, retiring the side in order to secure the win and even the series at 1-1.

Smith, Sidoti, Pomnitz, Guthrie, and Eli Musgraves each recorded two hits, with Sidoti leading the Rams with three RBIs. Wright added his second home run of the series, while Otte earned the win in relief, tossing four innings and allowing just five hits.

Game Three: TWU 12 CIU 2: Both teams were held scoreless in the first inning before Tennessee Wesleyan took a 2-0 lead in the second. The Rams responded quickly in the bottom half as Aaron Guthrie launched a two-run home run to even the score.

The Bulldogs answered right back, however, breaking the game open with nine runs across the third and fourth innings to take an 11-2 advantage. Tennessee Wesleyan added another run in the sixth, while CIU was unable to generate a late rally.

Guthrie led the Rams with two hits, while Smith, Greene, Musgraves, and Ian D'Amico each recorded a hit. On the mound, JT Stanley struck out three over 2.0 innings, and Gabriel Rottier closed the final frame with two strikeouts.

Up Next: CIU hits the road to take on the University of Pikeville (Ky.) on Friday, March 27th, with the first pitch scheduled for 12 P.M. EST.