MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Hilbert College Baseball opened its 2025 campaign this evening under the lights on Griffith Field against Rivier University down in Myrtle Beach. The Hawks used an 11-6 victory to begin a second straight season 1-0 as the lineup provided runs bunches while the pitching staff allowed just two earned runs.
New additions
Reed Lesmeister and
Kyle Borrello each chipped in with a pair of RBIs in their Hilbert debuts and
Dylan Moorhouse started his season strong with eight strikeouts over 4.2 innings of work.
How it Happened
The Raiders got on the board first on a first inning RBI single, before they doubled their lead in the top of the third on a run scoring double.
After a slow offensive start, the Hawks got back in the contest on their second time through the batting order.
Dustin Hendrix opened the home half of the fourth inning with a double before coming around the cut the lead in half on a passed ball. Lesmeister's first hit in the royal and white scored
Nolan Evans to knot the game at two all after four innings of play.
Rivier quickly restored its lead in the top of the fifth as a two-RBI single made it a 4-2 game. The bottom half of the frame saw the Hawks get a run back on Borrello's RBI double that scored fellow transfer,
Joey Haynes.
However, Rivier once again made it a two-run ball game in the top of the sixth inning on an RBI single up the middle, but Hilbert responded in the bottom of the frame to take control of the game.
A five-hit, five-run, bottom of the sixth inning gave the Hawks their first lead of their game as they held a three-run advantage after six innings of play. Lesmeister's sac fly got the scoring started to make it 5-4, before
Jack Duffek scored on a passed ball to tie the game.
Garrett Brink's first hit as a Hawk brought
Harley Hoag home for the 6-5 lead, and an error on a single from Borrello allowed Haynes and Brink to score for the 8-5 advantage.
The teams split scoreless seventh innings and the Hawks blanked the Raiders in the top of the eighth, before putting the game out of each in the bottom of the inning.
Logan Hoyt led off the eighth with a triple and scored on a wild pitch to open the Hilbert scoring in the frame. A Borrello RBI double, and Hendrix RBI single scored Brink and Borrello respectively to make it an 11-5 Hilbert lead after eight innings.
Rivier added a run on a wild pitch in the top of the ninth, but a pair of
David Alessi strikeouts limited the damage and wrapped up the Hilbert season-opening victory.
BY THE NUMBERS:
Up Next:
The Hawks are back in action tomorrow in Myrtle Beach as the team is set for a doubleheader against the University of Valley Forge at Ebbets Field. Opening pitch of game one is slated for 3 pm.
