FORT MYERS, Florida - March 9, 2023 - Hiram did all it could to hang with Saint John's in a back-and-forth game, but their late rally came up short in an 8-7 loss on Thursday afternoon at Terry Park Field 1.
The Terriers pitching staff gave up a crooked number in 3 different innings, but the offense would answer by scoring in the bottom half of each of those innings. Hiram trailed 3-0 before leading 4-3. It trailed 5-4 before tying it up at 5-5. And the team almost erased an 8-5 deficit with 2 runs in the ninth inning.
Despite the loss, the Terriers had their 2nd-most hits in a game this season (12) and their most stolen bases (5). They now have a 5-2 record with one game still to play in Florida.
Ten different Hiram players recorded at least 1 hit, including Hal Walker Jr. and Mike Midea with a pair of 2-run singles. Kyle Adams also tied a career-high with 3 hits out of the ninth spot in the batting order.
Saint John's tallied 3 runs on 4 hits in the top of the fifth, which marked the only damage off starter Jack Conley. Conley now has posted a quality start in both of his outings this year: 6 IP, 7 H, 3 R/ER, 0 BB, 3 K.Â
The Terriers pieced together a 4-run fifth inning, with Walker Jr. driving in two runs to open the scoring. Chaisson Marrs also scored on a double steal and Tanner Allison drew a bases-loaded walk to carve out a 4-3 Hiram lead.
The Johnnies regained the lead in the seventh inning on a pair of RBI doubles by Joe Becker and Jordan Amundson. Shortly thereafter, Hiram pinch-hitter John Bender evened the score at 5-5 with an RBI single to the opposite field.
The remaining offense in the game came in the ninth inning; Saint John's recorded 3 runs on 4 hits to take an 8-5 lead. All 3 of the runs were with 2 outs.
The Terriers wouldn't go down easily, with each of their first 4 hitters reaching base. Midea highlighted the rally with a 2-run single through the left side of the infield as a pinch-hitter.
Closer Evan Soeffker would settle in, though, as the team's catcher threw out a runner at second base and Soeffker picked off Hiram's runner at first base. A groundout would bring the scoring to a halt.
Hiram will wrap up its 8-game road trip in Florida with a game against Bluffton on Friday at 9 a.m. at Terry Park Field 3. The Terriers are also closing in on their home opener, which is scheduled against Thiel on Wednesday at 2 p.m.
