CLEVELAND, Ohio – Mount Union's softball team lost to Hiram in the first round of the NCAA Division III Softball Tournament 3-1 on Thursday afternoon.

The Terriers (25-14) struck first breaking the zero-zero tie with a three-run fourth inning, scoring off RBIs from Giselle Bahena, Darian Kanno and Abriana Schwartz to take a 3-0 lead.

The Purple Raiders (36-10) would answer with a run in the bottom of the sixth inning when freshman Sydney Mercer (Salem / West Branch) hit a sacrifice fly RBI to score freshman Lydia Brunner (Minerva) and cut the lead to 3-1. However, Mount Union wouldn't be able to plate any runs in the seventh inning as Hiram would go on to win 3-1.

Freshman Kendyll Cahill (Grove Port / Grove Port Madison) got the start in the circle for Mount Union and gave up three runs on four hits and struck out three in seven innings of action.

The Raiders will take on the loser of the game between Case Western and Penn State Altoona tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. in an elimination game in Cleveland.