The Hiram College baseball team fell to Oberlin College, 6-1 and 10-9, in a North Coast Athletic Conference doubleheader today (Sunday, Mar. 21) at Robert O. Fishel Field. [Game One Stats] [Game Two Stats]
Following today’s doubleheader, the Terriers are now 3-12 overall and 0-4 in the NCAC. The Yeomen improve to 4-1 overall and 4-0 NCAC.
In the first game, Oberlin scored a pair of runs in the first, second and fifth innings on three seperate two-RBI homeruns as the Yeomen had a 6-0 advantage heading into the bottom of the seventh. In its final at-bats of the game, Hiram ended the possible shutout thanks to a RBI groundout by senior Matt Rinaldi (Cape Coral, Fla./Cape Coral) with bases loaded. But the Terriers failed to score any more runs as Oberlin went on to win by the final of 6-1.
At the plate, Hiram had three hits and was led by senior All-NCAC infielder Kyle Kovach (Garfield Heights) who finished two-of-three. Sophomore Steve Dunn (Westlake) also tallied a hit, going one-of-three with a run scored.
Freshman pitcher Travis Richey (Petersburg/Springfield Local) went the distance, but suffered the loss, dropping him to 0-3 for the season. He allowed six runs on 10 hits and struck out three batters in seven innings.
In the nightcap, Hiram grabbed an early 2-0 lead on a two-RBI double by senior All-NCAC catcher Justin Street (Warren/Howland) in the bottom of the first inning. Oberlin answered with four runs in the second to take a 4-2 lead. The lead changed hands again in the third as the Terriers crossed the plate four times on a pair of two-run homers by Dunn and sophomore Randy Miller (Glenmont/West Holmes) that gave Hiram a 6-4 margin. The Yeomen then scored six unanswered runs, including a pair of two-run homers of their own in the fourth, to take a 10-6 lead. Hiram closed the gap with two runs in the fifth and trailed by two runs, 10-8, heading into the bottom of the seventh. The Terriers looked to mount a comeback with an inning-leading solo homerun by sophomore Lance Townsend (Garrettsville), cutting the deficit to 10-9. But the offense ended there as Oberlin got Hiram to record three straight outs and hung on for the 10-9 win.
Hiram was led by Dunn and Miller who both finished three-of-four at the plate. Dunn also scored a pair of runs and two RBI, while Miller added two runs scored and three RBI. Junior Cody Fincham (Windham) also had a multi-hit game going two-of-four with two runs scored.
On the mound, freshman Josh Weber (Lorain/Clearview) got the start and pitched four-and-a-third innings allowing 10 runs on 12 hits and struck out six batters. He would also be credited with the loss and is now 1-3 overall for the season. Junior Eric Schaffer (Kent/Roosevelt) came on to pitch two and two-thirds innings of relief giving up no runs and just one hit while striking out three.
Hiram will host Westminster (Pa.) College on Wednesday, Mar. 24 in a non-conference doubleheader at Fishel Field. The first game is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, please contact Hiram College Sports Information Director Jeff Hoedt by phone at (330) 569-5495, by FAX at (330) 569-5392 or by email athoedtjm@hiram.edu.
