HIRAM, Ohio – April 28, 2024 – Hiram softball gave the No. 1 team in the NCAC everything it could handle on Sunday afternoon, as the Terriers narrowly lost both games of a doubleheader to DePauw, 4-2 and 11-7 (12 innings), at Myrtis E. Herndon Field.

Darian Kanno had a strong effort in the circle in Game 1, while the team erased a four-run deficit before ultimately falling in extra innings in Game 2.

The Tigers remain undefeated in NCAC play (12-0) and have now secured home-field advantage for the entirety of the NCAC Tournament.

Game 1

The Terriers scored a pair of runs in the first inning on two bases-loaded hit by pitches, but the DePauw pitching staff held the home bats in check throughout the low-scoring affair. Fayth Kawamura and Angel Santellan each had multi-hit performances, with Abriana Schwartz and Kanno also having base knocks.

DePauw did half of its damage in the second inning, when a pair of unearned runs came around to score. Another unearned run in the seventh inning was enough to seal the game despite a complete game from Kanno: 7 IP, 10 H, 4 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K.

Game 2

Hiram wouldn't go down without a fight in Game 2, as the team erased 4-0 and 5-2 deficits thanks to a late charge in the fifth inning. Schwartz delivered the key hit, lifting a two-run triple to the left-center field gap to make it a 5-4 game. One hitter later, Kawamura scored her senior teammate with a sacrifice fly to level the score.

Then came four straight innings of scoreless softball, with reliever Trinity Meza coming through with one of her best performances of the season. The senior effectively changed speeds and induced plenty of weak contact to finish with a final line of 6.2 IP, 8 H, 2 R/ER, 0 BB, 2 K.

Once the 10^th inning arrived – the stage of the game when each team begins the inning with a runner at second base – the offenses started to click; the teams each scored one run in the top and bottom halves of the 10^th and 11^th innings. Hiram's offense came in the form of sacrifice flies by Santellan and Daynna Mekaru.

In the 12^th inning, the Tigers created separation with four runs on four hits to take an 11-7 lead. Hiram came close to scoring in the bottom half of the 12^th, but the lengthy battle finished on a perfect throw from the outfield to turn a 9-2 double-play.

What's Next

Hiram will jump back into non-conference play on Wednesday, when it travels to University Heights, Ohio for a doubleheader with John Carroll starting at 3 p.m. from Bracken Field.