DELAWARE, Ohio – April 21, 2024 – Hiram remained unbeaten in conference play on Sunday afternoon, improving to 6-0 against NCAC competition with 9-1 and 5-3 victories over Ohio Wesleyan at Margaret Sagan Field.

Darian Kanno continued her stellar week in the circle with a complete game in Game 1, while a two-run seventh inning proved to be the difference in a tight victory in Game 2.

The Terriers trail only DePauw in the conference standings; the Tigers are 8-0 in conference play this season.

Game 1 Recap

Kanno, who struck out 11 hitters in her first outing of the week against Denison, picked up right where she left off with a winning effort to even her season record to 5-5. The junior right-hander surrendered a two-out RBI single in the first inning before hanging four straight zeroes on the scoreboard to finish with a final line of 5 IP, 3 H, 1 R/ER, 2 BB, 8 K.

Hiram continued to feature a scorching hot offense in the first inning; the team strung together four runs on three hits to pull ahead early. Kanno ripped an RBI triple, Kylie Perez lifted a sacrifice fly and Daynna Mekaru singled in a pair of runs to establish the tone for the rest of the game.

The remainder of the runs came in the top of the third inning, when Perez (two-run triple) and Danielle Robles (RBI double) carved out an 8-1 lead. A throwing error later scored Robles from third base and Viviana Macias joined the fun with a sacrifice fly to give Kanno all the run support she needed to carry her team to the finish line.

Game 2 Recap

The theme of scoring in the first inning continued yet again to start Game 2, as Kanno hit another RBI triple and later scored on a sacrifice bunt. Kanno already has five triples this season, which is two shy of tying the program record for a single season (Kim Arnold, seven triples in 1998).

After Angel Santellan singled in Abriana Schwartz, the Battling Bishops made it a game with three runs between the fifth and sixth innings. Santellan also pitched in game and finished with a strong line of 5.1 IP, 9 H, 3 R/ER, 0 BB, 2 K.

In the seventh inning, Larissa Baeza began the rally with a one-out single up the middle. Schwartz delivered the go-ahead RBI double and Kanno added an RBI single to make it a 5-3 game heading into the home half of the frame. Reliever Trinity Meza did the rest of the work, stranding a runner at third and keeping the OWU offense at bay to seal the two-run victory and yet another conference doubleheader sweep.

What's Next

Hiram will look to extend its win streak to 10, when it takes on Oberlin for a doubleheader on Tuesday beginning at 3:30 p.m. in Oberlin, Ohio.