SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - April 2, 2023 - Hiram opened its conference schedule and split its doubleheader at Wittenberg; the Terriers lost Game 1 (7-6) before bouncing back in Game 2 (9-1).
Giselle Bahena and Danielle Robles led the top and bottom of the batting order respectively in the first game. Darian Kanno was dominant as the team's starting pitcher in the second contest.
It's a strong start to the NCAC slate for the Terriers, who now have outscored their opponents by 46 runs this season. The team will get a few days off before returning to non-conference action on Wednesday at Bethany beginning at 3 p.m.
Game 1 Recap
Neither team could gain separation in Game 1; Wittenberg led 2-0, Hiram then led 3-2, Wittenberg regained a 4-3 lead and Hiram then took a 6-4 lead through the top half of the fifth inning.
Kanno had the Terriers going early with a 2-run single to even the score at 2-2 in the third inning. Two batters later, Victoria Garcia gave her team its first lead of the day on an RBI single up the middle.
Bahena and Robles did the rest of the damage; the senior catcher had an RBI single in the fourth and the freshman outfielder had a two-run triple in the fifth. For the game, Bahena and Robles combined to go 4-7 at the plate with 3 RBI.
Wittenberg's 3 unearned runs in the fifth inning turned Hiram's 2-run lead into a 1-run deficit. Ryan Leto pitched a scoreless sixth frame, but the Terriers couldn't bring home the tying run in the top of the seventh.
Game 2 Recap
A brief break between the two games was all Hiram needed to get back on track; the team tallied 9 runs on 11 hits to fuel a brilliant pitching performance from Kanno. Robles again had a big game, going 3-3 at the plate, while Fayth Kawamura and Kanno also had multi-hit games of their own.
The biggest inning came in the third, when Kylie Perez singled in a run and Kanno doubled in 2 runs. Perez eventually came home on a double steal and Kanno crossed home plate on a sacrifice bunt.
Those 5 runs were more than enough for Kanno, who finished with a line of 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R/ER, 1 BB, 6 K. She also led all players in the game with 3 RBI as a hitter.
Robles and Kanno finished off the day with a pair of RBI singles in the fifth and sixth innings. The Terriers were active on the base paths throughout the contest, stealing 4 bases, tied for their 2nd-most in a game this season.
