FORT MYERS, Florida – March 13, 2025 – The big inning did its damage on Thursday afternoon at Terry Park Stadium, as Otterbein's four-run fourth inning proved to be the difference in a 7-6 loss as part of the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic.

Matthew Trimble, Kobe Hunter and Ethan Ryan each had multi-hit efforts, but the Cardinals allowed just one run over the final five innings to hold on for the win. Hiram got 2 scoreless inning from its bullpen to finish the contest, but couldn't get the tying run past first base during that span.

Jack Conley started the game and allowed just three runs outside of that fourth inning; the senior induced 10 groundouts and six flyouts over the 30 batters he faced. With six innings pitched, Conley finished with his longest outing of the year against a consistent OAC opponent.

Hiram scored five of its six runs between the second and fourth innings, which included an RBI single by Kobe Hunter and an RBI single after a lengthy at-bat by Logan Gallentine. The Terriers' 6-7-8 hitters in the batting order batted 5-for-13 (.385) on the day.

After Hiram scored five runs against Otterbein's Bryson Bell, the Cardinals got three innings of one-run ball from left-hander Brady Heagen, which furthered the momentum for the "home" team in the game. Heagen earned the win by pitching immediately after his team's four-run frame.

The Terriers got a pair of scoreless relief outings from Cooper Smith and Landin Wescott to close out the tightly contested battle.

Hiram will wrap up its Florida trip with a game against Haverford College on Friday at 12 p.m. from Terry Park Stadium in Fort Myers, FL.