FORT MYERS, Florida - March 9, 2025 - Hiram did all the right things on Sunday at the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic, racking up 28 runs on 30 hits on offense and not committing a single error on defense in 10-6 and 18-3 wins over Baruch College at Terry Park Stadium Field.
The Terriers bullpen combined for six innings of three-run ball between the two games, while Hal Walker Jr. and Ethan Ryan each had six hits on the day to improve their team's record to 3-1.
Game 1 Recap
The offensive outburst wouldn't begin until the later stages of Game 1, when Hiram scored nine runs over the final three innings to turn a 3-1 deficit into a 10-6 victory in eight innings. The game was scheduled to be played over seven innings, but Hiram leveled the score at 5-5 thanks to a sacrifice fly off the bat of Ben Yoder in the top of the seventh.
Hiram poured it on in the eighth frame, tallying five runs on four hits – all of which came with two outs in the inning. Logan Gallentine delivered the go-ahead knock on a two-run triple before Ryan had an RBI single and two more unearned runs later crossed home. Gallentine finished with a team-high three RBI.
Savian Wilkins earned the win in his first collegiate appearance by keeping it a 5-5 game heading into the eighth inning. The freshman from Canton, OH then teamed with Cooper Smith to close it out in the bottom of the inning.
Game 2 Recap
It was smoother sailing in Game 2, with Nicolas Chernitsky earning his first win of the season on the mound and the offense taking an even bigger step in a game that was all but decided after the first two innings.
Hiram took an 11-3 lead during that span, with Walker Jr. starting the charge on an RBI single and the trio of Gallentine, Matthew Trimble and Ben Yoder each leveling run-scoring doubles in the second inning. Gallentine had a career-high four RBI and finished the doubleheader with seven RBI.
The Terriers offense added another seven runs between the fourth and fifth innings; Chaisson Marrs had the key hit on a two-run double to tack on some insurance. Freshman Nate Thomas also tallied his first career RBI on a sacrifice fly.
Chernitsky settled in and finished with a final line of 4.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R/ER, 4 BB, 5 K. The bullpen combination of Andrew Fawver, Adam Yuzwa and Timothy Johnson combined for 2.1 scoreless frames to secure the sweep.
What's Next
Hiram will take on Alfred State in a single-game matchup on Monday at 12 p.m. from Terry Park Field 4 in Fort Myers, FL.
