FORT MYERS, Fla. – March 9, 2022 – Hiram baseball dropped a pair of games vs. Muskingum in the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic on Wednesday morning. Hiram lost game one 2-0 and fell in game two by a score of 5-1.
Game #1: Muskingum 2, Hiram 0
Robert James and Muskingum starter Erik Cover had no damage done to them in the first two innings. After allowing a single in the first inning, James settled in with a perfect second inning.
Trey Yoder helped bring in the game's first two runs in the third inning. Yoder hit a two-run single scoring Devin Ryan and Nate Keiser putting the Fighting Muskies up 2-0.
James settled in after the third frame, surrendering just one hit over the next three innings as the Hiram lineup looked to score.
In the bottom of the sixth,
Kyle Workman started the inning with a double.
Cody Wilson followed, reaching on an infield single to third. Hiram couldn't get a runner across the plate, however, with Muskingum holding the 2-0 lead.
Hiram couldn't tally a run in the last frame, falling 2-0.
Wilson was the lone Terrier to record two hits in the first game. James nearly went the full game, pitching 6.2 innings with three strikeouts in his first time on the mound this season.
Zachary Scalf recorded the other out with a strikeout.
Cover picked up the win pitching seven innings allowing six hits with two punchouts.
Game #2 Muskingum 5, Hiram 1
Back-to-back singles started the game for the Terriers in the second leg of the doubleheader. Workman and
Connor Bansek went through the right side of the infield.
Evan Fairbanks followed with a walk as the Terriers notched a run to start the contest.
Game two starter,
Sam Boyle allowed just two hits through three innings on the mound.
The Fighting Muskies' lineup woke up in the fourth inning, scoring four runs. Wyatt Reader reached on a fielder's choice which brought in the first Muskingum run.
Gavin Hawk hit an RBII single, followed by a two-run base knock by Nate Keiser putting Muskingum up 4-1.
Reader gave the Fighting Muskies an insurance run in the following inning with an RBI single.
No further damage was done by either team, with Muskingum winning game two, 5-1.
Carter Smith had two hits along with
Connor Bansek collecting a hit and two walks.
Sam Boyle, another pitcher making his 2022 debut, pitched 3.1 innings with a strikeout.
Aidan Stephens and
Matthew Kardos finished the game on the mound for Hiram.
With the two losses, Hiram is now 1-4 on the season.
The team next plays on Friday, March 11 with a doubleheader vs. Haverford at Terry Park Field #3 starting at 9 a.m.
