DELAWARE, Ohio - April 2, 2022 – Hiram College softball split their conference-opening doubleheader at Ohio Wesleyan University on Saturday at Margaret Sagan Field, dropping game one, 7-2, before bouncing back to take game two, 7-2. Following the doubleheader, the Terriers move to 8-8 (1-1 NCAC) on the year, while Ohio Wesleyan drops to 4-12 (1-1 NCAC).
GAME 1: OHIO WESLEYAN 7, HIRAM 2
After the Terriers let a runner on first in the top of the first, OWU took advantage of a defensive miscue to take the early lead. With one out, Alyssa Perkins doubled to left, and Sara Bias reached on an infield single to put runners at the corners. A passed ball allowed Perkins to score to give Ohio Wesleyan a 1-0 lead, before Sophia Cegledy reached on a fielder's choice, allowing Bias to score from third on an error to make it 2-0 OWU.
Neither side could get much going in the second or third before the Battling Bishops added to their lead in the bottom of the fourth.
A walk and a single put two runners on for Ohio Wesleyan, but
Darian Kanno got the next two runners via a strikeout and popout. However, a dropped flyball allowed Bias to come around to score, and then after a hit-by-pitch, Rylee Anspach tripled to right-center, clearing the bases and giving Ohio Wesleyan a 6-0 lead.
The Terriers would stretch a run across in the top of the fifth, as
Trinity Meza led off the inning with a single and moved to second on
Melissa Galindo's groundout. Meza came home on Kanno's RBI single to center, but Kanno was out at second trying to stretch her single into a double, keeping OWU's lead at 6-1.
In the bottom of the sixth, Ohio Wesleyan added another run on Cegledy's RBI double, extending their lead to 7-1, before Hiram came up to the plate for their final at-bats.
Abriana Schwartz led off the seventh with a single to center and was pinch-ran for by
Natalie Mallas. Meza then reached on a fielder's choice to give the Terriers a pair of base runners, but Katie Chittum got the next batter swinging.
Galindo's RBI single made it 7-2, scoring Mallas from second, but Chittum got a flyout and strikeout to end the threat, and finish off the 7-2 victory for the Battling Bishops.
Kanno (0-3) took the loss for the Terriers, allowing six runs, but just one earned, on seven hits, walking two and striking out six. Meza allowed one run on one hit in 2.1 innings of relief, striking out two.
Chittum (3-7) earned the win for Ohio Wesleyan, allowing two runs on eight hits.
Galindo and Kanno each led the Terriers with two hits, Galindo going 2-for-3 with an RBI, and Kanno, 2-for-4 with an RBI.
GAME 2: HIRAM 4, OHIO WESLEYAN 1
Ohio Wesleyan again struck first in the bottom of the first inning, plating a run on Cegledy's RBI single. A hit-by-pitch and a sacrifice bunt moved a runner into scoring position for Cegledy, who gave the Battling Bishops the early lead with her single to right-center.
Hiram struggled to get things going early, going 1-2-3 in each of the first two frames, and leaving base runners on in the top of the third and fourth.
But after
Jeskari Rodriguez worked around a one-out walk to keep OWU's lead at just one in the bottom of the fourth, the Terriers' bats came alive in the top of the fifth.
Meza led off the frame with a double to center and took third on
Leah Valdez's infield single. Another infield single, this time by Galindo on a bunt, loaded the bases for Kanno, who tied the game with a sacrifice fly to center.
Schwartz then found a hole in the left side of the infield, singling to bring Valdez home and give the Terriers their first lead, 2-1 of the doubleheader. And after
Avery Balurdi pinch ran for Schwartz,
Giselle Bahena smacked a double to center, scoring a pair to make it 4-1 in favor of the Terriers.
And that would be all Rodriguez needed, as she made quick work of the Battling Bishops in the fifth, setting the side down in order, and working around a leadoff single in the bottom of the sixth.
The Battling Bishops would threaten in the bottom of the seventh, as Sydney Hoover led off the inning with a double to center. But Rodriguez got the next three batters via a lineout and a pair of strikeouts, to finish off her complete-game victory, and give the Terriers a 4-1 win.
Rodriguez (4-3) earned the win for Hiram, allowing one run on four hits, walking one and striking out five over 7.0 innings pitched. Perkins (1-2) took the loss for OWU, allowing four runs on seven hits over 4.1 innings pitched.
At the plate, Galindo and Schwartz each led the Terriers with two hits, while Bahena knocked in a pair of runs. Galindo went 2-for-3 with a run scored, Schwartz went 2-for-4 with an RBI and Bahena went 1-for-4 with a double and two RBI.
The Terriers wrap up their weekend in Angola, Ind. on Sunday, April 3 with a doubleheader against Trine. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
