FORT MYERS, Florida - March 13, 2026 - Hiram wrapped up the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic on Friday, as the Terriers split a doubleheader with Pitt-Bradford: 8-7 win in Game 1 and 3-2 loss in Game 2 (both seven-inning games).
The Terriers finished the tournament with a 3-5 record over the six days; the team will have one more non-conference game back in Ohio on Thursday before opening conference play on Saturday.
Game 1 Recap
A grand slam off the bat of Drew Mason was the turning point in the day's opener, as the senior from Wadsworth, OH belted his first career extra-base hit to turn a 3-1 deficit into a 5-3 lead. Mason hit safely in five of his six games played in Fort Myers, establishing himself as a veteran bat in the middle of the batting order.
Pitt-Bradford continued to chip away with a pair of long balls in the game, but an RBI single by Tyler Fernandez and a throwing error kept the Terriers in business. The Panthers eventually tied the game at 7-7, but Tyler Leasure stranded the go-ahead run in scoring position to keep the score deadlocked.
Freshman Kian Drummonds took it from there, lifting his first career home run – a go-ahead shot to right-center field – to put Hiram ahead, 8-7. Cody Horvath then came on for the save and worked around a pair of baserunners to secure the victory.
Game 2 Recap
The pitching staffs for both teams settled in throughout Game 2, as Hiram's Braeden Kinnaird posted a second straight quality start: 6.1 IP, 7 H, 3 R/ER, 1 BB, 6 K. Pitt-Bradford scored once in the first inning and twice in the fifth inning, but otherwise Kinnaird surrendered just two extra-base hits and totaled his second-most strikeouts in a career game.
The Terriers offense came to life in the seventh inning, as Luke Snider launched a one-out home run to right field and pinch-runner Jelani Carr came around to score on an RBI single by Logan Gallentine. Hiram then had the tying and go-ahead runs on base, but left them stranded on a popout.
What's Next
Hiram will host Kenyon on Thursday at 4 p.m. before opening PAC competition with a doubleheader against Thiel on Saturday at 1 p.m from Fishel Field in Hiram, OH.
