HIRAM, Ohio - April 18, 2024 - Hiram moved into a first-place tie with DePauw atop the NCAC standings with a doubleheader sweep of Denison on Thursday afternoon at Herndon Field (8-2 in Game 1 | 2-1 in Game 2).
The two victories improve the team's home record to 6-0 and conference record to 4-0. DePauw also stands at 4-0 in NCAC play this season.
Game 1 Recap
Darian Kanno added to her historic career at Hiram College in Game 1, working five innings of one-run ball as a pitcher and adding a pair of doubles as a hitter. Her 11 strikeouts in the circle marked her second-most in a career game (12 vs Chatham this season); the junior now has four career games with double-digit strikeouts, which extends a program record.
For the fifth straight home game, Hiram scored in the first inning, hanging four runs on the scoreboard in the early stages. Kanno doubled in a run, while Danielle Robles (two-run single) and Daynna Mekaru (RBI double) kept the line moving to carve out a 4-0 lead.
One inning later, Angel Santellan ripped a double up the middle and Kylie Perez singled in a run to bring the lead to seven runs (7-0). Perez later added an RBI single to give the Terriers more than enough offense for Kanno and reliever Trinity Meza to finish the game.
Game 2 Recap
Pitching proved to be the strength for Hiram yet again in Game 2, with Santellan earning her team-high fourth win in the circle. The senior allowed just one unearned run to finish with a winning line of 7 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 K.
Santellan continues to be reliable for the Terriers, both in limiting opposing runs and giving her team length in the circle. Her 3.21 ERA this season is a team-best mark, while her four complete games is one shy of tying a career-high for a single season (five complete games in 2021).
The Hiram offense scored both of its runs in the second inning, when Abriana Schwartz singled in Viviana Macias and Mekaru to give the Terriers a 2-0 advantage. Denison scored on an error in the fourth inning, but Santellan retired 11 of the final 12 Big Red hitters to seal the low-scoring affair.
What's Next
Hiram will take the rest of the weekend off before heading to Oberlin, Ohio to take on the Yeowomen for a doubleheader on Tuesday beginning at 3:30 p.m.
