FORT MYERS, Florida - March 6, 2023 - Hiram proved it could hold a lead and erase a deficit as part of its doubleheader sweep over Pitt Bradford on Monday, winning 4-0 in Game 1 and 6-5 in Game 2 at Terry Park Field 4.
Stephen Javorek threw a complete game shutout in Game 1 and Hal Walker Jr. hit a walk-off RBI double in Game 2 to lift the Terriers to a 3-0 record with 5 games still to play in Fort Myers.
"It's tough beating the same team twice in one day," Walker Jr. said. "We're ready to just win and do whatever we can."
Head coach Phil Brua was pleased with the effort and looks forward to what's still to come during the team's stay in Florida.
"It's good to be in a position where we're 3-0 and we still have a lot to work on," Brua said. "Just taking it each day at a time."
Game 1 Recap
The Terriers once again showed their ability to score with 2 outs, racking up 4 runs on 3 hits while in that situation in the second inning. Michael Corsillo (RBI single), Cody Wilson (2-run double) and Kobe Hunter (RBI single) dealt the damage to the Pitt Bradford staff.
That production was all Javorek needed to earn the win; the senior out of Chesterland, Ohio allowed just 1 extra-base hit and 3 total hits as part of the shutout in the 7-inning game. He faced runners in scoring position in the second and third innings, but kept the Panthers offense at bay both times.
Javorek retired 14 of the final 15 batters he faced to secure the victory, including a 1-2-3 seventh inning. It was his 1st career shutout and 2nd complete game; he previously did so against Allegheny in the 2021 season.
Game 2 Recap
The second game was more of a back-and-forth battle, with Pitt Bradford scoring in three different innings (1st, 3rd, 5th) and Hiram scoring in the other four innings (2nd, 4th, 6th, 7th). Robert James had a solid performance on the mound, giving up 3 runs (2 earned) over 3 innings to keep the score at 3-1.
Chaisson Marrs drove in each of Hiram's first two runs on an RBI single and RBI groundout, the second of which pulled the Terriers within one run. The Panthers responded with another 2-run inning in the fifth to take a 5-2 lead.
Hiram's late-inning magic began in the sixth inning, when Marrs lifted a sacrifice fly and Corsillo laced an RBI single to left field. Pinch-hitter Kyle Adams continued the rally with a sacrifice fly of his own, scoring pinch-runner Jordan Mallernee from third base and tying the game at 5-5.
"It was great to see Kyle Adams score a pinch-runner," Brua said.
Jacob Kocuba would keep the Terriers' hopes alive by holding Pitt Bradford scoreless in 2 ? innings of work, including an efficient seventh inning that featured a pickoff at first base. After trailing 5-2, Hiram's offense now had a chance to win the game.
In the bottom half of the seventh, Connor Bansek hit a 1-out single up the middle before Walker Jr. ripped an RBI double down the left-field line for the walk-off victory. Walker Jr. was 0-6 on the day with a walk prior to delivering the decisive blow.
"A lot of credit goes to Hal Walker Jr.," Brua said. "Had a pretty tough day at the plate, drew a big walk his previous at-bat, didn't get frustrated, stayed within. He found a way to come up big for us when it mattered."
The Terriers will return to action on Tuesday at 9 a.m. against Rockford, which will be played at the same Terry Park Field 4 in Fort Myers.
