ALLIANCE, Ohio –The Mount Union men's swimming and diving team defeated Hiram, 179-89, in their home opener at Hammond Natatorium on Saturday afternoon.

The Purple Raiders were paced by junior Hayden Birnbrich (Pataskala/Columbus St. Charles Prep) and freshman Tyler Moore (Amherst/Amherst), who each won three events on the day.

Birnbrich won both the 50 and 100-yard freestyle events, with times of 22.10 and 49.48. Moore claimed first in the 100 (1:02.94) and 200 breaststroke (2:19.29).

Also taking individual events for Mount Union were Andrew Oktavec (Brunswick/Brunswick) in the 1000 free (10:52.51), Marcus Zappa (Amherst/Amherst Steele) in the 200 free (1:51.53), Zach Melvin (Woodmere/Orange) in the 100 backstroke (1:00.01), Gavin Rundell (Mount Vernon/Mount Vernon) in the 200 butterfly (2:04.01), and Michael Branch (Las Vegas, Nev/Palo Verde) in the 200 backstroke (2:10.94).

The Raiders also won the 400 medley relay (3:46.08), with the team of Birnbrich, Moore, Joe Simpson (Hudson/Walsh Jesuit), and Austin Moreland (Dover/New Philadelphia).

Mount Union (1-1) returns to the pool on Saturday, November 2 at 1 pm when they host Defiance in a conference meet.