KISSIMMEE, FLA.  --  The Hiram College softball team split its final pair of the games of its annual spring trip to Florida losing to Catholic (Wash. D.C.) University, 14-0 in five innings, but beating College of St. Scholastica (Minn.), 5-4 in eight innings, in Kissimmee, Fla.

In the game against Catholic, Hiram struggled from the plate as the Terriers recorded just two hits in the game.  The Cardinals racked up 16 hits and scored all 14 of their runs in back-to-back innings beginning with an eight-run bottom of the second that included a two-RBI triple.  Catholic then added six more runs in the third that included a pair of triples to make the score 14-0.  The Terriers were held scoreless after five innings of play, putting the eight-run run into effect as Catholic posted the 14-0 victory.

Hiram's two hits came from off the bats of senior All-North Coast Athletic Conference outfielder Sarah Loyer (Barrie, Ontario/St. Joseph's) and freshman pitcher/first baseman Brittany Zajac (Corry, Pa./Corry).  Both players finished one-of-two on the day.

At pitcher, sophomore Meghan Garland (Mineral Ridge/Mineral Ridge) got the start and pitched one and two-thirds innings allowing eight runs on six hits and had one strikeout.  Zajac came on to pitch a third of an innning in relief and gave up three runs on four hits.  Sophomore Taylor Miller (Kent/Roosevelt) pitched the final two innings and gave up three runs on six hits and struck out two batters.

In the nightcap against St. Scholastica, the Hiram offense improved with 14 hits and five runs.  The Saints got on the board first with a run in the top of the third inning, but the Terriers crossed the plate twice in the bottom half of the inning on a RBI single by sophomore third baseman Nicole Hoy (Brunswick) and a RBI single by senior All-Region catcher Jess Bolanz (Randolph/Waterloo) to make the score 2-1.  Hiram added a pair of runs in the sixth following a pair of defensive errors to increase the margin to 4-1 heading into the final inning.  Scholastica rallied in the top of the seventh scoring three runs to deadlock the game at 4-4.  Hiram hit into three straight outs in the bottom of the frame keeping the score tied and sending the game into extra innings.  The Saints failed to score in the their half of the eighth inning and the Terriers would get a runner to third on a passed ball with no outs in the bottom of the eighth.  Following a walk, Hiram recorded its first out with the runner on third being thrown out at home plate, but Hiram junior infielder Kayla Schmidt (Garfield Heights) then connected on a single that allowed the runner from first to score and gave the Terriers the 5-4 win.

Bolanz paced Hiram with three hits and finished three-of-four overall to go along with a RBI.  Hoy, Schmidt, sophomore shortstop/second baseman Jessica Wahl (Akron/Ellet) and freshman outfielder Dana Perrotta (New Castle, Pa./New Castle) all had a pair of hits and were two-of-four overall.  Wahl and Perrotta also scored a run, while Schmidt added a RBI.

Garland pitched all eight innings in game two to get the win.  She allowed four runs on 12 hits and posted two strikeouts.

Hiram will return north and is scheduled to travel to New Wilmington, Pa. for a non-conference doubleheader against Westminster (Pa.) College on Wednesday, Mar. 19.  The first game is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m.