GREENCASTLE, Indiana - May 12, 2023 - A balanced mix of offense and pitching lifted Hiram to a 6-4 victory over DePauw in the team's first game of the 2023 NCAC Tournament on Friday afternoon.

The team is now one win away from advancing to the championship round, with #3 Denison being its next opponent at 3:40 p.m. on Friday.

Darian Kanno allowed 3 ER over 4.2 IP in between the circle, while also contributing a team-high 3 hits as a batter in the game. Angel Santellan also belted a 2-run home run – her 1st HR of the season and 6th of her career.

Hiram is now riding a season-long 5-game winning streak, as it marches closer to defending its NCAC Tournament title from 2022.

Kanno hit an RBI double to the opposite field to jump-start the offense in the first inning; Danielle Robles came around to score on the play after starting the game with a walk. The Tigers answered with 2 runs in the home half of the inning to make it a 2-1 game through the first frame.

Santellan was next to join in on the action, hitting a 2-run homer to change the lead yet again in the fourth inning (3-2, Hiram). It was Santellan's 1st home run since she homered on May 7, 2022 against Wooster, which also happened to be in the NCAC Tournament.

DePauw would tie the game in the home half of the fourth, but Hiram continued to apply pressure with another 3 runs over the following two innings. Giselle Bahena scored on a wild pitch and Kylie Perez knocked in two runs on a single to bring the lead to 6-4.

Trinity Meza did the rest of the work, surrendering just 3 hits and 1 unearned run over the final 2.1 innings to secure the victory. The relief appearance marked Meza's 1st career save.

Hiram will now set its sights on Denison at 3:40 p.m. on Friday in Greencastle, Indiana. The winner will advance to the championship round of the NCAC Tournament, while the loser will still have a chance to advance to that same championship round on Sunday.