HIRAM, Ohio - April 8, 2023 – Connor Bansek lifted Hiram to its third walk-off victory of the season on an RBI single in Game 2 of Hiram's doubleheader against Ohio Wesleyan on Saturday at Fishel Field. The Terriers won that game, 11-10, after losing in Game 1 (16-6).
The Terriers finished the day with some of their best offense of the season; they scored 6 runs over the final three innings of Game 2 to pull out their first conference win of the year. Bansek had 4 hits between the two games.
Hiram will now set its sights on Penn State Behrend, with a home doubleheader scheduled for a 12 p.m. start on Monday at Fishel Field.
Game 1 Recap
The Ohio Wesleyan offense was in a groove to start the day, scoring 7 runs over the first two innings. It would add 3 more runs in the fourth frame to put Hiram in a tough hole.
The Terriers were up for the challenge, though, reeling off 6 runs between the fourth and fifth innings. Notably, Chaisson Marrs had an RBI double down the right-field line and Alec Bennett singled through the right side to bring in Tanner Allison.
The Battling Bishops finished the game with 6 unanswered runs to take the Game 1 win.
Game 2 Recap
Hiram continued its resilient form in Game 2, erasing a 5-0 deficit with 5 runs of their own between the fourth and fifth innings. It was all about the freshmen throughout the scoring run; Bennett and Logan Gallentine each had an RBI double, while Mike Midea knocked in 2 runs on a single to the pull side.
Midea was back for more in the seventh, hitting another RBI single to bring in Evan Fairbanks. The Terriers would score another three runs in the inning to take a 9-5 lead heading into the eighth. Jack Conley was solid throughout, keeping Hiram's lead intact and finishing with a final line of 8 IP, 9 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 4 K.
The final two innings operated like a seesaw; each team scored at least 1 run in each half inning during the span. OWU was able to tie the game at 10-10 with 3 runs on 4 hits in the ninth.
Hiram didn't let up, with 3 of its first 4 hitters reaching base safely to load the bases for Bansek. The senior, who entered the at-bat with 0 hits in Game 2 after having 3 hits in Game 1, found the hole up the middle to walk it off and give the Terriers some momentum heading into another busy week.
