By: Andrew Korba

HIRAM, Ohio -- The Hiram College softball team used a pair sixth inning rallies to post a doubleheader sweep of Westminster (Pa.) on Saturday afternoon at Herndon Field.

The Terriers (2-10) scored six times in the sixth to turn a 5-4 deficit into a 10-5 win in the first game and broke a 1-1 tie in Game 2 by scoring four times in the sixth inning for a 5-1 victory.

In the first game, all nine starters scored a run for Hiram.

The Terriers scored jumped out to an early lead in the first on a RBI single by junior Heather Pahoresky (Mantua, Ohio/Crestwood).

The Titans (4-8) answered with a run in the second, but Hiram came right back with a run in the bottom of the inning, on a RBI single by junior Emily Syrjala (Seattle, Wash./Seattle Prep).

Westminster tied the game in the third with a run and scored twice in the fourth to jump in front 4-2.

The Terriers responded with a run in the fourth on a RBI double by Syrjala and tacked on another run in the fifth to tie the game, on a sac fly by senior Nicole Hoy (Brunswick, Ohio/Brunswick).

The Titans took the lead back in the sixth, before Hiram exploded for six runs in the bottom of the frame for the win.

Senior Brittany Bruening (Parma, Ohio/Parma) led off the inning with a double and freshman Makenzie Dombrowski (Streetsboro, Ohio/Streetsboro) followed with a bunt single to put runners on the corners.

Syrjala came up and singled in Bruening to tie the score at 5-5. Senior Jessica Wahl (Akron, Ohio/Ellet) would follow with a sac bunt and junior Dana Perrotta (New Castle, Pa./New Castle) put Hiram in front with a RBI single to score Dombrowski.

Perrotta then drew a throw to second on a steal attempt and Syrjala crossed the plate on the throw to second, to make the score 7-5.

Following an out, Pahoresky doubled to bring home Perrotta. Hoy would then reach on an error to bring home Pahoresky and junior Brittany Zajac (Corry, Pa./Corry) closed out the inning with a single to drive in Hoy.

Syrjala went 3-for-3 with three RBI's and Zajac collected three hits and scored twice. Garland (1-5) fired a complete game and struck out three batters.

In the second game, the teams were scoreless until the fourth, when Bruening singled to left to drive in Pahoresky and give Hiram the 1-0 lead.

Westminster tied the game in the fifth, but the sixth inning magic struck again to give Hiram the win.

With the bases load, Bruening came up and reached on a bobbled ball by the second baseman to score Garland and give the Terriers the 2-1 lead.

Senior Kali Stover (Akron, Ohio/Coventry) would draw a bases loaded walk and Syrjala and Wahl each singled to drive in a run in the frame.

Dombrowski (1-5) fired a complete game, striking out three batters, without giving up an earned run for her first career win.

The Terriers will play next on Monday, March 21, in a home doubleheader against Grove City (Pa.). First pitch is set for 3 p.m.