ATHENS, Tenn. — CIU softball dropped both games of a Saturday doubleheader to Tennessee Wesleyan, falling 9-2 in the opener before a 3-2 walk-off loss in game two. The Rams, coming off a sweep of Bryan the day prior, now sit at 28-12 overall.
Game One: Tennessee Wesleyan 9, CIU 2
CIU struck first with two runs in the second inning, capitalizing on defensive miscues to take an early lead. Carmella Korte delivered an RBI double before another run scored on an error to give the Rams a 2-0 advantage.Tennessee Wesleyan answered in the bottom of the second to tie the game before breaking it open in the fifth. A five-run inning gave the hosts control, and they added two more runs in the sixth to extend the lead.
Tristan Phillips and Abigail Guthrie each recorded two hits to lead CIU's offense, while Lilli Petty added a hit and a run scored.
Game Two: Tennessee Wesleyan 3, CIU 2
Game two was tightly contested throughout, with Tennessee Wesleyan walking off the Rams in the seventh inning.
CIU took a 1-0 lead in the fourth on a solo home run from Caydon Thompson and added another run in the sixth when Lilli Petty drove in Abigail Guthrie to make it 2-0.
Tennessee Wesleyan responded with a run in the sixth before scoring twice in the bottom of the seventh to secure the win.Thompson finished with two hits and an RBI, while Raleigh Stewart added two hits. Petty drove in a run as part of CIU's six-hit effort. Abby Ragan got the start in the circle provided five K's in three innings.
Up Next: CIU returns home to host Spartanburg Methodist in an Appalachian Athletic Conference doubleheader beginning at 4:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 16.
