HIRAM, OHIO  --  Sophomore outfielder/catcher George Blake (Parma) hit a two-run homerun in an 11-6 loss to the University of Mount Union in a home non-conference single nine-inning game at Robert O. Fishel Field.

Following today's game, the Terriers fall to 8-10 overall and the Purple Raiders improve to 13-5 overall for the season.

Both teams remained scoreless until the top of the third inning when Mount Union got on the board with a run to take a 1-0 lead.  Hiram answered in the bottom of the inning thanks to Blake's two-run shot with two outs to give the Terriers a 2-1 advantage.  Hiram added to its lead in the fourth with a run on a RBI single by freshman outfielder Rob O'Toole (Brooklyn, N.Y./La Salle Academy).  The Purple Raiders then took the lead with a five-run top of the fifth to make the score 6-3.  Hiram got two of those runs back in the bottom of the frame thanks to a pair of RBI singles by freshman infielder Mark Leone (Boardman) and freshman infielder Ron DeAmicis (Austintown/Fitch) to cut the deficit to a run, 6-5.  The Terriers later tied the game at 6-6 in the seventh, but Mount Union took control of the game scoring five runs in the eighth and went on to claim the 11-6 victory.

Hiram recorded 10 hits in the game, but gave up 17 hits to Mount Union and committed five errors defensively.  Blake led the offensive effort finishing two-of-three at the plate with three runs scored and two RBI.  Leone and freshman outfielder/pitcher Nate Weiss (Warren, Mich./University Leggitt) also had a pair of hits and were both two-of-four overall.  Leone also added a RBI. 

Hiram had four pitchers see action in the game with freshman J.T. Taylor (Niles) getting the start, but would get the no decision, pitching three innings and allowing one run, unearned, on three hits.  Freshman Pat Rhodes (Girard) came on in relief to pitch three innings and would suffer the loss, dropping him to 1-3 overall on the year.  He gave up five runs on nine hits and had four strikeouts.

Hiram will resume its North Coast Athletic Conference schedule when it travels to Oberlin this weekend for a two-day four-game series against Oberlin College.  The first doubleheader is set for Saturday, Mar. 31 with the first game scheduled for noon.