MONTGOMERY, Ala. - March 8, 2020 – Hiram Terriers softball split their doubleheader against the Huntingdon College Hawks on Sunday at the Lucinda Sanford Cannon Softball Field, falling 7-2 in game one before coming back to take game two, 4-2. With the win, the Terriers move to 2-6 on the year.

GAME 1: Huntingdon 7, Hiram 2
Huntingdon scored four runs on four hits in the bottom of the first to take the early lead. A single, hit-by-pitch and wild pitch put runners on first and second for Hannah Sims, who singled up the middle to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead. Back-to-back singles from Mollie Singleterry and Sydney Conville made it 3-0, before Huntingdon tacked on another run on Caitlyn Caffee's RBI groundout to make it 4-0.

Neither team was able to string a run across in the second, before the Terriers got on the scoreboard in the top of the third. Kaitlyn Hager smashed a two-out double, and Giselle Bahena followed with a single, putting runners on the corners with two outs. Hager and Bahena then perfectly executed a double steal, cutting Huntingdon's lead to 4-1.

But the Hawks added two more in the bottom of the frame on Annie Nolan's sacrifice fly and a throwing error, extended their lead to 6-2.

Hiram tacked on another run in the top of the fifth on Giselle Chavez's double, scoring Melissa Galindo from first, but Huntingdon again answered with a run in the bottom of the frame on Hannah Vines' RBI single.

And Madison Hunt held the Terriers to just one base runner the rest of the way to finish off the 7-2 Hawks victory.

Sheck (1-3) took the loss for Hiram, allowing six runs, four earned, on six hits, while Hunt (5-1) earned the win for the Hawks.

Bahena went 2-for-3 to lead the Terriers, while Jeskari Rodriguez allowed just one run on three hits over four innings of relief, striking out five.

GAME 2: Hiram 4, Huntingdon 2
Hiram struck first in the top of the first inning. Hager drew a leadoff walk, stole second and third and scored on a throwing error by the Hawks' catcher to give the Terriers an early 1-0 lead.

In the circle, Hager mowed down the Hawks with a pair of swinging strikeouts in the first and worked around two hits in the bottom of the second before the Terriers extended their lead. Bahena doubled, advanced to third on a throw home and scored on a passed ball to extend Hiram's lead to 2-0.
But the Hawks answered to tie the game in the bottom of the frame. With runners on first and second following an error, fielder's choice and single, Hannah Sims doubled to left, scoring two to even the score at 2-2.

The Terriers though, came right back with an answer in the top of the fourth. Back-to-back singles from Chavez and Megan Davis put two on for Hager, who reached on a fielder's choice. Victoria Garcia then single to left to score Davis and Bahena smacked an RBI double to left-center, scoring Hager to give Hiram a 4-2 lead.

Hager would hold that lead the rest of the way for the Terriers, leaving the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth and stranding two in the fifth and one in the sixth before working a 1-2-3 seventh to finish off the 4-2 Hiram victory.

Hager (1-1) earned the win, allowing two runs on eight hits and striking out five in a complete-game win. Hager also helped herself at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a walk, two stolen bases and two runs scored.

Lauren Melton (0-1) took the loss for the Hawks, who fall to 6-6 with the loss.

Bahena and Garcia each led the Terriers with two hits. Bahena went 2-for-4 with two doubles, a stolen base, a run scored and an RBI, while Garcia went 2-for-3 with a walk and an RBI.

The Terriers will wrap up their six-game road trip on Monday, March 9 in Birmingham, Ala. with a doubleheader against Birmingham Southern beginning at 4:00 p.m. at BSC Softball Park.