By: Andrew Korba

BEREA, Ohio -- The Hiram College softball team dropped a pair of close game to Baldwin Wallace in a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday.

The Yellow Jackets (7-8) used a late rally to capture the first game 5-4 and also recorded a 5-3 win in the second game.

In the opening game, Hiram (5-15) put its first two runners and a triple from senior Meghan Garland (Mineral Ridge, Ohio/Mineral Ridge) drove in both runs to give the Terriers a 2-0 lead.

BW answered with two runs in the bottom of the first, but the Terriers jumped back in front in the third thanks to a RBI double from senior Nicole Hoy (Brunswick, Ohio/Brunswick) that scored junior Dana Perrotta (New Castle, Pa./New Castle).

Hiram added another run in the fifth, getting a RBI single from junior Brittany Zajac (Corry, Pa./Corry) to expand the lead to 4-2.

But the Yellow Jackets answered with a run in the fifth and scored two more in the sixth to take a 5-4 lead. Hiram put two runners on in the seventh, but could not score, allowing BW to hang on for the 5-4 victory.

Senior Danielle Latine (Eastlake, Ohio/North), Garland and Hoy each had two hits, while Perrotta came around to score three times.

In the nightcap, Garland gave the Terriers the early lead again, blasting a 2-run homer to left center. Baldwin Wallace countered with a 2-run home run of its own in the first, to knot the score at 2-2.

The Yellow Jackets took the lead for good in the third on a pair of RBI doubles.

Hiram pulled within one run, 4-3, in the fifth as Garland hit into a fielder's choice to score senior Kali Stover (Akron, Ohio/Coventry).

BW added an insurance run in the fifth and worked around a pair of Terrier runners in the seventh for the win.

Senior Jessica Wahl (Akron, Ohio/Ellet), junior Emily Syrjala (Seattle, Wash./Seattle Prep) and Hoy all had two hits, while Garland drove in all three runs.

Hiram will return to action on Saturday, April 2, as it opens NCAC play with a doubleheader at DePauw (Ind.) that begins at 1 p.m.