CLEVELAND, Ohio – May 18, 2021 – Five Hiram Softball student athletes: Giselle Bahena, Kaitlyn Hager, Jeskari Rodriguez, Abriana Schwartz and Mariah Sheffield, earned First-Team All-North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) East Division honors as announced by the conference on Tuesday.
 
Schwartz and Sheffield earned First-Team All-NCAC East Division honors as infielders, Bahena as a catcher, Hager as a utility and Rodriguez as a pitcher. In addition, Head Coach Scott Pohlman was named the NCAC Softball Coach of the Year following the Terriers' best finish in program history since 2011.

The five selections are the most for the Terriers since 2011, when Hiram garnered three first-team selections and two second-team selections.

Schwartz, a freshman from San Marcos, Calif., led the Terriers in numerous offensive categories in just her first collegiate season. The freshman appeared and started 39 games, with a team-leading .405 batting average, .490 on-base percentage and .612 slugging percentage. Schwartz also led the team in runs, hits, doubles, total bases and walks.

As a freshman, Schwartz led the conference in hits, doubles and walks. Additionally, she ranked second in runs scored, fourth in on-base percentage, sixth in RBI and batting average and eighth in slugging percentage.

"Abriana Schwartz was a highly recruited shortstop coming out of high school, and her rookie season shows why," Pohlman said. "On defense, Abriana made the difficult play look routine. While on offense, Abriana was our leadoff hitter throughout the season, setting the table for those who followed her."
 
Schwartz's 2021 season also places her in the record books, ranking top ten in program history in numerous single-season categories, including batting average, on-base and slugging percentage, hits, runs, doubles and walks.

Sheffield, a senior from Long Beach, Calif., appeared in all but one game during the 2021 campaign. The senior batted .350 with a .400 on-base percentage and a .561 slugging percentage. Sheffield led the team and finished third in the NCAC with five home runs and second in NCAC with 37 RBI. Both single-season statistics also put Sheffield in the top 10 in program history.

"Mariah was one of our best hitters in both in conference play and throughout the regular season," Pohlman said. "Her timely hitting with runners on base and in scoring position was one the biggest reasons we we're successful in 2021."
 
Bahena, another senior who hails from Pomona, Calif, was the lone Terrier to appear and start in all 41 games this season. The senior has been an anchor of Hiram's defense at catcher, starting more than 120 games in her career. This season, Bahena batted .353 with a .405 on-base percentage, and finished second in the NCAC in hits, fifth in both runs scored and RBI and tenth in doubles.

"Giselle Bahena is a leader on-and-off the field for us. She was a four-year captain, and the amount of extra work that she put in is reflected in her hitting and defensive stats," Pohlman said. "Often times, Giselle would bring other players with her for extra work. Giselle will go down as one of the best catchers in Hiram College history."
 
Bahena will finish her career ranked Top 10 in program history in batting average, on-base percentage and doubles, as well as the all-time leader in runners caught stealing.

Hager, a senior and a native of Rohnert Park, Calif., appeared and started in 35 games this season. Hager saw action in multiple spots on the field, playing in the infield, the outfield and in the circle. At the plate, Hager hit .362 with a .400 on-base percentage and a .509 slugging percentage. In the circle, Hager appeared in 11 games making six starts. She collected 37.1 innings pitched and a 2.63 ERA, good for second on the team. Hager's 42 hits and 26 RBI also ranked eighth in the conference.

"Hager was our most versatile player, playing left field, third base, shortstop and pitching, sometimes with little or no practice," Pohlman said. "Additionally, Hager was not your typical two-hitter. In conference Kaitlyn hit .372. And not only did she hit for average, Kaitlyn contributed 10 RBI."
 
Rodriguez, a sophomore and a Chula Vista, Calif. native, earned one of the two pitching spots on the All-NCAC East Division First Team. The sophomore led the Terriers in both appearances, with 17, and starts, with 12. Rodriguez led the team with a 2.03 ERA, the third-best single-season ERA in program history. Rodriguez also led the team in wins with ten, as well as strikeouts with 61.

"Jeskari's two wins in the circle the opening weekend of conference play set the tone for the rest of conference play," Pohlman said. "Those two wins against Wooster were instrumental in helping us making it to the NCAC Championship series for the first time since 2011. And not only was Jeskari dominant in the circle, she was also a force at the plate."

Rodriguez tied for the third-most wins and strikeouts in the conference, had the fourth-most innings pitched and had the fourth-lowest ERA. Her ten wins also puts her in the top ten for most wins in a single season in program history.

Sheffield and Hager were named All-NCAC for the second time in their careers. Sheffield was named Second Team All-NCAC in 2018, while Hager earned Honorable Mention All-NCAC in 2018 as well.

The Terriers finished the 2021 campaign with a 24-17 (11-1 NCAC) record, earning the top-seed in the NCAC East Division and making their first appearance in the NCAC Championship Series since 2011.