By: Andrew Korba

GAMBIER, Ohio -- The Hiram College baseball team was swept in a doubleheader by Kenyon in the NCAC opener for both squads on Sunday.

The Lords (14-5, 2-0 NCAC East) took Game 1 by a 15-3 count and hung on for a 7-6 win in Game 2.

The Terriers (2-13, 0-2 NCAC East) served as the home team for the doubleheader, which was moved to Gambier due to weather conditions at Hiram.

In the first game, the Terriers struck for a run in the first as junior Brandon Chesmar (Amherst, Ohio/Elyria) reached on a fielder's choice that scored freshman Bryan Engdahl (San Pasual, Calif./Escondido).

The Lords responded with three runs in the second to jump in front 3-1, but Hiram answered with a run in the bottom of the inning. Engdahl laced a two out single and stole second. Freshman Bryan Fryda (Youngstown, Ohio/Boardman) followed with a bloop single to center to score Engdahl.

Kenyon answered with two unearned runs in the third to expand their lead to 5-2. The Terriers had another answer as they got a RBI fielder's choice with the bases loaded from freshman Austin DeGregory (Girard, Ohio/Girard).

The Lords would pull away, scoring four more runs in the fourth, one in the sixth and five in the seventh for the 15-3 victory.

Engdahl led the Terrier offense, going 2-for-4 with two runs scored.

In Game 2, the Lords raced out to a 7-0 lead after three innings. But the Terriers would rally, before falling 7-6.

Hiram got on the board in the fourth as Chesmar laced a 2-out single up the middle to score sophomore Phil Ward (Garfield Heights, Ohio/Garfield Heights).

The Terriers added a run in the sixth as freshman Preston Patterson (Uniontown, Ohio/Lake) hit a 2-out single to bring home senior Trevor Foster (Warren, Ohio/Champion).

Hiram would score two more times in the seventh. Junior Brandon Gros (Ravenna, Ohio/Kent Roosevelt) scored on a passed ball and Ward reached on a fielder's choice to score Engdahl.

In the eighth, the Terriers pushed two more runs across on a sac fly by DeGregory and a RBI single by freshman Christian Owens (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio/Woodridge). Hiram would strand the tying run on second.

Hiram appeared poised for a ninth inning rally as Fryda led the inning with a single. He was then thrown out trying to steal second on a failed hit and run, bringing the potential rally to a close.

Chesmar finished 3-for-4 with a RBI and a run scored and Patterson added two hits, a RBI and a run scored.

Sophomore Kyle Watson (Warren, Ohio/Howland) worked around early trouble on the mound and went seven innings, striking out two batters. Junior Ryan Fedor (Mantua, Ohio/Crestwood) tossed two perfect innings in relief.

Hiram will be back at it on Tuesday, April 5, with a non-conference road game at Grove City (Pa.) at 3:30 p.m.