AUBURNDALE, Florida - March 5, 2023 - The Hiram softball team lost both of its games on Sunday to open the season: 4-3 to Johnson & Wales and 4-2 to Muskingum.

The Terriers fought back in both games before falling just short. The non-conference contests were played as part of "The Spring Games," which has Hiram playing in 10 games across nearly a week of competition in Auburndale, Kissimmee and Winter Haven, Florida.

Game 1 Recap vs Johnson & Wales

Trinity Meza allowed 3 runs in the second inning but didn't allow any further damage and finished with just those 3 runs allowed over 4 ? innings of work. Darian Kanno added 2 scoreless frames of work to keep Hiram within striking distance.

The Hiram offense was held scoreless through 6 innings, with Johnson & Wales adding another run in the top half of the sixth on a solo homer. The score stood at 4-0 heading into the seventh.

The Terriers battled back, piecing together a 3-run inning on a Fayth Kawamura RBI single, a Larissa Baeza sacrifice bunt and a double steal that involved Baeza and Danielle Robles. The comeback wouldn't be enough, though, as the Wildcats retired the final two batters to hang on for the win.

Game 2 Recap vs Muskingum

Another low-scoring affair followed in the second leg of the doubleheader, with Hiram and Muskingum featuring a pitcher's duel between Kanno (3 ? IP, 2 R, 1 ER) and Madelyn Thomas in relief (5 ? IP, 0 R/ER).

The Terriers jumped ahead early on a Giselle Bahena RBI single before Muskingum responded with 2 runs of its own. In the second inning, Robles laced an RBI single up the middle to tie the game at 2-2, which also knocked the opposing starter out of the game.

The Muskies won the game with a run in the fifth and sixth inning, one of which was unearned against Meza. Hiram got 2 runners on base in the seventh inning, but the rally fizzled out on a game-ending double play.

The Terriers will return to action for a doubleheader on Monday at 9 a.m. (Trine) and 2 p.m. (Heidelberg).