HIRAM, Ohio -- On Sunday, Kenyon College softball split a doubleheader hosted by North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) opponent Hiram College, winning the first game 2-0 before narrowly losing 4-3 in the second contest.

Game One

The Ladies shut out the Hiram Terriers in the opener thanks to a strong defensive showing; Kenyon committed no errors in the contest, while Hiram committed three.

Kenyon led early, scoring once in the top of the first inning. Hiram starter Kaitlyn Hager walked Madi Maldonado, who then stole second and reached third on a ground out by Grace Finn. Lauren Graf singled into right field to send Maldonado across home plate and give the Ladies the one-run advantage.

In the bottom of the third, Hiram managed to load the bases, but the Ladies clamped down on defense to keep the shut-out alive. With three runners on the bags, Hager reached first when the Ladies chose to get Bebe Grein out at home plate. Kenyon pitcher Keely Sweet then struck out Makenzie Dombrowski swinging. A ground out from Shalynn Call concluded the inning and left the Terriers empty-handed.

Sweet earned her tenth win of the season by tossing all seven frames, scattering five hits and inducing 11 groundouts.

The Ladies scored their only other run in the top of the fourth. A Hiram error on a hit by Grace Pilz allowed Kathryn Riggs to run from first to home and put the score at 2-0.

Game Two

Hiram scored first in the second game. In the bottom of the first inning, Call sent a double into left center field to bat in a run from Hager.

The Ladies responded in the top of the third to take a 2-1 lead. Maldonado singled, then took advantage of a Hiram error to score on a single from Finn. Finn reached third on that same error and bagged another run when Kenyon freshman Emily Buckwalter singled into left field.

The Terriers soon replied with two runs of their own in the bottom of the third. Hager walloped a three-bagger to right field, and Dombrowski soon sent her over home plate with a single. Dombrowski then made her way to third and survived a failed pickoff attempt by Kenyon to score a run of her own, putting the score at 3-1.

Dombrowski batted in one more run in the fourth, pushing Alexus Acton from third to home with a single to center field.

The final run of the game came from the Ladies in the top of the sixth. Pilz knocked a double into right field, moving Buckwalter across home to narrow Hiram's lead to one.

Kenyon had a chance to tie or move in front in the top of the seventh, but three quick outs spoiled the comeback. Hiram pitcher Bailey Scheck frustrated Kenyon's batters all game, throwing 61 strikes on 96 pitches in game two.

The Ladies return home to host Allegheny College (16-11, NCAC 8-4) on April 24. That doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m.