COLUMBIA, S.C. - CIU (29-15) closed out its final Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) home games on Saturday with a doubleheader against Johnson (Tenn.), dropping both contests in a tightly contested series. Despite strong pitching efforts and outhitting the Royals in the finale, the Rams were unable to capitalize late, falling in both games to conclude conference play at home.
Game One: Johnson 1 CIU 0 (9 Inn.): Both teams had early opportunities, with CIU threatening in the first inning after Caydon Thompson doubled and moved to third, but the Rams were unable to bring her home. CIU continued to apply pressure in the third and fifth innings, but Johnson's defense held firm to keep the game scoreless.
The breakthrough came in the top of the ninth, as Johnson used a hit-by-pitch and back-to-back hits to capture a 1-0 lead. CIU looked to answer in the bottom half, getting a two-out single from Sophia Noriega-Mora to bring the tying run aboard, but a strikeout ended the game as the Rams were held scoreless.
In the circle, Isabella Davis turned in a strong complete-game performance, limiting Johnson to just five hits while striking out six and keeping the Royals off the board through the first eight innings. Offensively, CIU recorded six hits, with Thompson leading the way with two. Tristan Phillips, Hannah Murphy, Noriega-Mora, and Raleigh Stewart each added a hit
Game Two: Johnson 5 CIU 2: Johnson struck first in the opening inning to lead 2-0. The Royals created separation in the fourth inning and extended the lead to 4-0. CIU threatened multiple times throughout the game, recording 10 hits, but struggled to capitalize with runners on base, leaving 10 stranded. Johnson added an insurance run in the seventh, pushing the lead to 5-0.
The Rams mounted a late push in the bottom of the seventh. Phillips tripled to open the inning and scored on a sacrifice from Abigail Guthrie. Thompson later crossed the plate on a groundout by Hannah Murphy, cutting the deficit to 5-2, but CIU could not get any closer.
Phillips led the way with a 3-for-4 performance, while Thompson and Kami Meekins each added two hits. Abby Ragan struck out four in 3.2 innings, and Stewart allowed just one run in the final 3.2 innings.
Up Next: CIU hits the road to take on Bluefield University (Va.) on Monday, April 20, with a doubleheader starting at 1 P.M. EST to close out AAC play.
