GAMBIER, Ohio -  May 3, 2023 - Hiram dropped both of its games on Wednesday at Kenyon, 9-8 and 4-3.

The team battled to the end of each contest; Hiram outscored the Owls, 7-0, after the sixth inning of Game 1 and, 3-0, after the fourth inning of Game 2.

Hal Walker Jr. had 3 hits in the first game before Chaisson Marrs set a new career-high with 4 hits in the second game.  Austin Smith, Jacob Koces and Jacob Kocuba were sharp in relief between the two games, combining for 5 scoreless innings.

The Terriers will next travel to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and take on Chatham on Thursday at 7:30 p.m.

Game 1 Recap

Hiram fought its way back into the game after trailing 5-0 and 9-1. The team tallied 6 runs on 6 hits in the seventh inning, with Marrs (single), Michael Corsillo (single), Walker Jr. (fielder's choice) and Evan Fairbanks (sacrifice fly) all knocking in 1 run apiece. 

Freshman Matthew Trimble capped off the seventh with a 2-run double to bring the deficit to 9-7. Trimble finished the game with a career-high 3 RBI in his fourth collegiate start, with a sacrifice fly coming in the ninth inning to cut the margin to 1 run.

Koces kept the Terriers within striking distance thanks to 2 scoreless innings, but the Trimble sacrifice fly marked the final Hiram offense of the game.

Game 2 Recap

Kenyon pulled ahead, 4-0, through 4 innings on a 3-run homer and solo shot from the top-2 hitters in its lineup. Beyond that, the Terriers pitching duo of Aidan Stephens and Jack Conley combined for 5 quality innings with just 5 other hits allowed.

The offense once again showed heart in the tightly contested NCAC affair; Walker Jr. had a pair of RBI singles in the 5th and 9th innings to trim the margin in half, 4-2. Corsillo then scored on a fielder's choice to make it a 1-run game again in the ninth inning.

Hiram had the tying run on first base and the go-ahead run at the plate, but another fielder's choice would bring the contest to an end. Smith and Kocuba were dominant out of the bullpen to give their team that exciting opportunity in the closing moments.