STEUBENVILLE, Ohio – April 13, 2026 - The Hiram College softball team registered a Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) split with Franciscan University on Monday afternoon, falling 6-5 in Game 1 before scoring an 8-0 victory in Game 2.
The doubleheader between the two teams was originally scheduled for Mar. 31 at Hiram. Game 1 was suspended in the bottom half of the seventh inning due to lightning, forcing the teams to reschedule the doubleheader for Monday, with the Terriers still being the home team but Franciscan hosting both the resumed Game 1 and the full Game 2.
Game 1 Recap
Franciscan jumped out to an early 3-0 lead through the top of the second inning.
Daynna Mekaru started a second-inning rally with a single to left field; advancing to second base on the play was
Hannah Marlow courtesy of a walk.
Haven Papineau took matters into her own hands, doubling in both baserunners to cut the Barons lead to one run.
Each time the Barons put runs on the board, the Terriers responded. In the bottom half of the fourth, Papineau recorded an RBI, reaching base by error. Likewise, in the bottom half of the fifth, Marlow responded to the Barons' scoring with an RBI double to cut the deficit to 6-4..
With all the momentum in the seventh inning, the weather proved to be too much, and the game was suspended. Before the suspension, Mekaru singled for her third hit of the day to load the bases. By rule, the resumption of the game started just as it left off.
Hiram started the first pitch of the day on Monday with the bases loaded and one out. The team was able to obtain one more run as Papineau was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, but the late-game rally ended with both the tying and walk-off runs stranded on base.
Marlow and Mekaru paced the way for the Terriers bats. The duo went 6-for-6 with five hits and two walks. Papineau also did damage at the plate with a hit and a career-high four RBI.
Sarah Ciereszewski and
Yasmine Clark made major contributions from the Terriers bullpen with a combined line of 3.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 SO.
Game 2 Recap
From the jump, Hiram took advantage of playing a complete game from start to finish against the Barons in Game 2.
Kayla Prigge started a two-out rally in the first with an RBI single to center field. Marlow immediately followed with an RBI single of her own.
Hannah Schimmoeller jumped in on the action with another RBI single to go up 3-0.
In the fifth, Marlow continued her dominance at the plate, as she blasted a three-run home run, her fifth of the year. The junior from Huntsville, OH is now hitting .400 on the season, leading the team in hits (24), doubles (8), RBI (27) and home runs (5).
Avery Contini capped the game off with her first hit of the day, knocking a two-run single to right field to put the eight-run mercy rule into effect.
Clark pitched a beauty of a game with her third consecutive complete game start, on top of her third straight win. Clark gave up only four hits through five innings pitched and tacked on five strikeouts.
What's Next
Hiram will travel to Geneva College for a resumption of a doubleheader on Tuesday. The doubleheader was suspended on April 6 due to weather. The two teams will finish the remainder of Game 1 followed by Game 2. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.
