LEESBURG, Florida - March 4, 2024 - Hiram softball split its doubleheader against Mount Union and Regis College on Monday afternoon, with the second of the two games marking its first win of the season, a 9-3 route of Regis to end the day on a high note.
In the victory, Darian Kanno hit the team's first home run of the season and the 10th home run of her career, making her the fourth student-athlete in program history to reach that mark (Jessica Bolanz, Chastine Romanello and Heidi Gibson).
Game 1 Recap
A rematch of the 2023 Regionals was in store to start the day; Mount Union scored five runs on six hits in the first two innings to get the edge early on. Kanno would take over for Trinity Meza in the circle and posted another stellar effort to keep her team in the game: 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R/ER, 0 BB, 5 K.
The Terriers offense got their first runner in scoring position in the fourth inning, when Kanno doubled to left-center field and Angel Santellan knocked her in with an RBI single through the left side of the infield. Danielle Robles would also double later in the game, but the Purple Raiders held on for the win in the low-scoring affair.
Game 2 Recap
Hiram did just about everything in Game 2. On offense, the 2-3-4 batters in the lineup – Abriana Schwartz, Kanno and Angel Santellan – combined for seven hits and all nine of the team's RBI. In the circle, the trio of Hope Sizemore, Meza and Kanno combined for seven quality innings, which included just two extra-base hits allowed.
The balanced effort began with Kanno's two-run blast, which turned a 1-0 deficit to a 2-1 lead in the first inning. Schwartz would later plate a run in the third inning on a groundout to give the Terriers a two-run advantage.
Regis would even the score at 3-3, but Hiram pieced together a five-run sixth inning that was highlighted by three straight RBIÂ hits from Schwartz (two-run single), Kanno (RBI single) and Santellan (two-run double). It was the team's biggest inning of the season and provided just the boost it needed for the rest of the week.
Meza earned the win and Kanno earned her sixth career save, which extends a program record.
What's Next
Hiram will take the day off on Tuesday and return to action with more doubleheader action on Wednesday against Neumann (12:30 p.m.) and Calvin (3 p.m.) in Leesburg, FL.
