HIRAM, Ohio - April 8, 2023 – The Hiram softball team lost both of its games to Ohio Wesleyan on Saturday, 10-8 and 7-4, a pair of back-and-forth affairs that could've gone either way.
Giselle Bahena took center stage in Game 1, setting the new program record with her 197th career hit in the bottom of the first inning. The Terriers outhit their opposition in both games, too; 15-to-11 and 10-to-8.
Hiram will have a chance to bounce back right away, as it plays host to Marietta on Monday for a doubleheader that begins at 3:30 p.m.
Game 1 Recap
Bahena entered play with 196 career hits, tied with Stephanie Zunic (2006-09) for the most in program history. She quickly made her mark in the record books, hitting a single up the middle to kickstart the Terriers offense and officially make history.
Hiram would hang a crooked number in the second inning, scoring 6 runs on 6 hits to take a 6-0 lead. Victoria Garcia had an RBI single and Danielle Robles ripped an RBI triple to highlight the rally.
The Battling Bishops wouldn't let down, though, scoring 3 runs in the fourth inning and 7 runs in the sixth inning to take a 10-8 lead. Darian Kanno had a 2-run double in between those two scoring runs, but Ohio Wesleyan would end up with the Game 1 win.
Game 2 Recap
The Terriers got the offense rolling early once again in Game 2; Kanno would knock in a run on a single in the first inning and Bahena moved closer to 200 career hits with a 2-run single in the second inning. Bahena finished the day with 199 career hits, setting her up for another historical day on Monday.
The big inning would fuel Ohio Wesleyan for the second straight game; the Battling Bishops got a run in the third frame before crossing the plate another 5 times in the fourth. Eight different players in the opposing lineup had a base hit.
Hiram would respond with an RBI groundout by Megan Moser, but that was the lone offense for the remainder of the contest. Jeskari Rodriguez didn't allow a hit in relief of starter Angel Santellan; Rodriguez made her first two appearances of the season in both games of the doubleheader after a remarkable 2022 campaign that saw her land second team all-conference honors.
