Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
Ohio Wesleyan 12, Hiram 2
Hiram 6, Ohio Wesleyan 5

Sophomore second baseman D.J. Neff (Grove City) slammed a 2-run homer that put Ohio Wesleyan ahead to stay and senior righthander Ethan Soderna (Chicago, Ill./Jones College Prep) recorded his first collegiate win as the Bishops defeated Hiram in the opener of a non-divisional doubleheader between North Coast Athletic Conference rivals on Saturday in Hiram.

In the nightcap, Neff doubled to lead off the game and later scored, then doubled in a run and scored in the second inning as Ohio Wesleyan built a 5-0 lead, but Hiram rallied to tie the game and salvaged a split of the twinbill on Kyle Workman's walk-off homer in the bottom of the seventh.

The opener saw senior shortstop C.J. Colson (Beachwood) line a one-out double in the top of the third and score when Neff followed with a homer to left.  Junior catcher Lucas Stetter (Fort Collins, Colo./Rocky Mountain) drove in a run later in the inning to make it a 3-0 Bishop lead.

Senior catcher Zack Stiteler (Lewis Center/Olentangy Orange) doubled home 2 runs to cap a 4-run fifth inning, and junior outfielder Davis Graham (Canton/Massillon Jackson) singled in 2 runs during a 4-run seventh frame.

Graham and Stiteler each went 2-for-4 with 2 RBI for Ohio Wesleyan.

Soderna pitched the first 6.0 innings, scattering 6 hits and striking out 6 while walking 2.

Matt Norton was the starting and losing pitcher for Hiram.

Neff opened the nightcap with a double to left center and scored one out later when senior third baseman Austin Harper (Sycamore/Mohawk) pulled a single through the right side.

The Bishops made it 2-0 in the second on singles by freshman outfielder Edrick Padilla (Salinas, P.R./Perkiomen (Pa.) School), Colson, and freshman catcher Tyler Monaco (Centerville/South Mecklenburg (N.C.)).  Neff followed with a double to score Colson, and Neff and Monaco came in on a fielding error by Terrier second baseman Evan Fairbanks.

Hiram evened the score in the third, pushing across 5 runs on RBI singles by Curtis Caithaml and Fred Wright, bases-loaded walks to Fairbanks and Tanner Allison, and a sacrfice fly off the bat of Amdrew Church.

Sophomore righthander Michael Lipscomb (Pataskala/Watkins Memorial) and senior lefthander Xavier Sarver (Waynesburg/Sandy Valley) blanked Hiram for the next 4.0 innings, allowing only one runner to reach second base during that stretch, but Terrier reliever Jacob Kocuba was equally effective, allowing only one Bishop to reach third base during his 4.0 innings of work.

Workman led off the bottom of the seventh with a homer to left to give the hosts the win.

Monaco was 2-for-3 and Neff was 2-for-4 for Ohio Wesleyan.

Freshman righthander Andy Anthony (Delaware/Buckeye Valley) was charged with the loss in relief.

Kocuba was the winning pitcher in relief for Hiram.

Box Score - Game 1
Box Score - Game 2