MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Hilbert College Baseball continued play at the Ripken Experience this afternoon with a matchup against Cairn University at Pelicans Stadium. For a fourth straight contest in Myrtle Beach, the Hawks opened the scoring, but seven unanswered runs from the Highlanders saw Hilbert fall 7-1 and drop to 3-2 on the young season.

How it Happened

• After neither team was able to bring a runner around to score in the first inning, the Hawks took advantage of a Jack Duffek lead off double to take a 1-0 lead in the top of the second. Duffek found himself on third after a productive Harley Hoag groundout, before the Hilbert designated hitter came in to score thanks to an RBI groundout from Reed Lesmeister.
• The lead would be short lived however, as Cairn strung together a walk and two singles in the home half of the frame to make it 2-1 after two innings of play.
• The score remained 2-1 after a scoreless third, but the Highlanders broke the game open over the next three innings. A run in the bottom of the fourth, paired with two runs in both the fifth and six innings made it a 7-1 contest heading into the seventh.
• Two quick innings that saw just two total baserunners sent the game into the top of the ninth with the Hawks needing six runs to extend this afternoon's matchup.
• Kyle Borrello got the first Hilbert hit since the third inning with one out, and Dustin Hendrix walked to join Borrello on the basepath, but two quick outs ended the game.

BY THE NUMBERS:

• Garrett Brink, Borrello, and Duffek were the lone Hawks to record a hit, while Nolan Evans and Hendrix each got on base via a walk.
• Spencer Harford recorded the loss in his first start of the season. In four innings of work, the senior allowed four earned runs while striking out three Highlanders.
• Brendan Walsh, Ryan Hilton, and Ronald Mort each recorded a strikeout in relief.

Up Next:

The Hawks will look to get back in the win column when the team returns to action tomorrow against Geneva College at 3 pm.