April 8 - GAMBIER, Ohio - The Hiram College baseball team opened North Coast Athletic Conference play by dropping both halves of a doubleheader to Kenyon College on Saturday afternoon. Hiram fell 8-6 in game one, before suffering a 12-0 defeat in game two. 

The big inning was key for the Lords as they posted three multi-run frames in the doubleheader, which proved to be the difference.

In game one, Hiram took control in the middle stages of the contest. Trailing 1-0 in the top of the fourth inning, the Terriers loaded the bases with just one out. Freshman Vito Petrillo then came through with his fourth RBI of the season, singling home Brandon Chesmar to tie the game 1-1. 

The next batter was Alex Perrella, who reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Brian Fryda. On the same play, an error by the Lord's short stop allowed Eric Martin to cross the plate. Brandon Gros then singled home Perrella, staking Hiram to a 4-1 lead. 

In the fifth inning, Tyler Carcioppolo got into the action, knocking an RBI triple to left-center field before scoring on a wild pitch to extend the lead to 6-1. 

All of the runs came in support of starting pitcher Hank Clegg, who allowed just two earned in six innings while striking out three batters. Despite the good start, Clegg finished with the no decision. 

The Lords' first big inning of the doubleheader came in the bottom of the seventh. After pulling the score to 6-2 in the fifth, Kenyon came through with five runs on four hits off of the Terrier bullpen. The difference-making play came on a three-run home run from Phillip Nam which gave the hosts a 7-6 lead. 

Kenyon would tack on one more in the bottom half of the eighth inning, as the Terrier bats fell quiet. Hiram collected just two hits after the fifth, with both coming on singles from Tyler Duben. The freshman DH finished game one 3-for-5. 

The second big inning from Kenyon came in the fifth of game number two. Freshman starter Shawn May began the game strong on the mound, hanging zeros through the first 4.1 innings. 

In the fifth, however, Kenyon came right back, totaling nine hits and plating eight runs in the frame to blow the game open, 8-0. 

The hosts would continue their multi-run inning barrage in the sixth inning, posting four more runs against the Hiram bullpen to round out the scoring, 12-0.

Offensively in game two, Gros led the way, totaling a pair of hits, while Bryan Engdahl and Vince Lonigro added the other two. 

Hiram will look to split the season series with the Lords as the two sides will play another doubleheader on Sunday afternoon. First pitch of game one is scheduled for a 12:00 p.m. start.