FORT MYERS, FLA.  --  Despite trailing by five runs, the Hiram College baseball team fell short of Olivet (Mich.) College, 7-6, in 14 innings, in its final game of the Gene Cusic Classic in Fort Myers, Fla.

Olivet (2-0) jumped out to a 5-0 lead after scoring a run in the bottom of the third inning, two runs in the fourth and two more scores in the fifth.  Hiram (5-5) narrowed the gap in the top of the sixth inning thanks to a two-RBI single by junior Shane Haidet (Alliance/Marlington) to make the score 5-2.  Two innings later, the Terriers added two more runs on separate RBI-singles by freshman Trevor Foster (Warren/Champion) and junior Mike Gatta (McDonald) to cut the deficit to a run, 5-4.  The Comets answered with a run in the bottom of the eighth to extend the lead to two runs, 6-4, heading into the ninth inning.  Hiram scored one run in the ninth on a defensive error with bases loaded and then later tied the game on a RBI groundout by sophomore Kyle Myers (Kinsman/Badger) to make the score 6-6.  In Olivet's half of the inning, the Hiram defense got the Comets to hit into three straight outs, sending the game into extra frames.

Neither team could knotch the go-ahead or game-winning run until the bottom of the 14th inning when Olivet scored on a bases loaded sacrifice fly to claim the 7-6 victory.

Hiram finished the game with 18 hits. Sophomore Rob O'Toole (Brooklyn, N.Y./La Salle Academy) tallied four of those hits and finished four-of-seven overall.  Haidet ended the game three-for-six with a run scored and two RBI.  Sophomore Mark Leone (Boardman) also recorded three hits going three-of-four overall and scored a run.  Foster and Myers rounded out the multi-hit efforts with Foster finishing two-for-two with a RBI, while Myers went two-of-three and had a RBI. 

Freshman pitcher Evan Wutrick (Alliance/Marlington) started the game and pitched seven innings and finished with a no decision.  He allowed five runs on nine hits and struck out two batters.  Sophomore Ron DeAmicis (Austintown/Fitch) pitched six innings of relief giving up just one run on five hits and struck out four.  Senior Eric Cameron (Akron/Green) suffered the loss pitching a third of an inning allowing a run on two hits.

Hiram will return North and is scheduled to host Thiel (Pa.) College in a non-conference doubleheader on Saturday, Mar. 16 at Robert O. Fishel Field.  The first game is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.