HIRAM, Ohio - April 10, 2023 - Another day, another celebratory finish for the Hiram baseball team.
The Terriers had their fourth walk-off win of the season – and their second in a span of three days – as part of a doubleheader split with Penn State Behrend (10-1 loss and 9-8 win).
Freshman Matthew Trimble hit a walk-off home run in his fourth collegiate at-bat to complete a come-from-behind victory that saw Hiram trail by as many as 5 runs. Among the other notable freshman performances in the game were Landin Wescott and Cody Horvath, who combined for 6 innings of 3-run ball out of the 'pen.
Hiram is now 11-13 on the season, with a non-conference game at Geneva on Thursday (4 p.m.) before a return to conference play on Saturday at Wabash (DH, starting at 12 p.m.).
Game 1 Recap
Jacob Koces was effective in the early stages of the doubleheader, working through 3 scoreless innings before allowing unearned damage in the fourth inning. The sophomore nearly finished with a quality start: 5.1 IP, 9 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 K.
The Terriers finished the game on a positive note, with pinch-hitter Jordan Mallernee lacing an RBI double to score Alec Bennett and prevent the shutout.
Game 2 Recap
Like many other times this season, Hiram fought through adversity and worked its way back in the game with balanced play. The team trailed 5-0 after the top of the first, but immediately responded with 2 runs in the home half of the inning.
Aidan Jantz walked in a run in the third inning before freshman Logan Gallentine delivered the biggest hit of his collegiate career, a two-run single to tie the game at 5-5. Gallentine and Trimble knocked in 4 of the team's 9 runs.
Penn State Behrend would regain an 8-5 lead and would hold that advantage through the fifth inning. Michael Corsillo had an RBI single in the sixth, but the Terriers still trailed by multiple runs heading into the final inning, 8-6.
Two new heroes emerged when the team needed them most; Jantz ripped an opposite-field RBI triple and Trimble launched a 2-run homer to center field to give the team a 9-8 walk-off win. The team erupted and crowded Trimble at home plate to celebrate the win.
All four of Hiram's walk-off hits this season have come from a different player – Hal Walker Jr., Kyle Adams, Connor Bansek and Trimble. Horvath got through some big moments out of the bullpen, logging two scoreless frames to earn his first win.
