FORT MYERS, Florida - March 10, 2025 - Hiram posted a strong effort in a highly competitive game on Monday afternoon at Terry Park, keeping it close before ultimately losing a 2-1 battle to Alfred State as part of the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic.

The Pioneers had entered play with a 6-4 record, which included a win over the No. 7 team in all of Division III, Salisbury.

Jacob Koces spearheaded the Terriers with seven innings of two-run ball; the senior held the opposition scoreless into the fifth inning before a solo home run and RBI double ended his day. Koces, who has proven before that he can command the baseball and compete against some of the best competition in the country, finished his first start of the season with a line of 7 IP, 7 H, 2 R/ER, 3 BB, 7 K.

The Hiram offense was in a similar spot, as it couldn't muster a run against a 6-foot-4 lefty, Jordan Hughes. The opposing starter worked six scoreless frames to keep it a 2-0 game heading into the final third of the non-conference affair.

The Terriers cracked the scoring column for the first time in the seventh, when Tyler Fernandez singled and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by John Bender. Ethan Ryan later brought Fernandez home with a two-out, RBI single to left field to cut the deficit in half.

Alfred State hung on over the last two innings and took the game, 2-1. Hiram had the tying run at second base and go-ahead run at first base, but a double play halted the ninth-inning rally.

Hiram will return to the diamond on Tuesday, when it returns to Terry Park Stadium Field for a matchup with Wisconsin Lutheran at 10:30 a.m. in Fort Myers, FL.