GREENCASTLE, Indiana - May 9, 2024 - Hiram played well in all facets of the game to start the NCAC Tournament, as the Terriers advanced to the winner's bracket of the double-elimination event with a 3-0 win over Denison on Thursday afternoon.

Darian Kanno pitched a shutout in the circle and hit a home run in the batter's box, while the Terriers defense played a clean game behind her. The offense also came through with a critical two-run fifth inning to seal the team's third consecutive trip to the winner's bracket in the NCAC Tournament dating back to 2022.

"I think it was the energy today and being ready to play," Kanno said after the game. "Stepping in the box, it was just being ready to hit that first pitch."

Kanno worked out of trouble early on, stranding a pair of runners on base with three strikeouts in the first inning. From that point forward, she cruised to her fourth complete game in the month of May alone: 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R/ER, 3 BB, 6 K.

Senior catcher Viviana Macias, who has caught all four of those complete games, continued to show the value in having good chemistry with the pitching staff.

"It's easy because they make it a lot easier," Macias said of Kanno's pitching performance. "Coming from the bullpen onto the field – it just translates."

Kanno jump-started the offense before even stepping in the circle, as she lifted her third home run of the season over the left-field wall to carve out a 1-0 lead. The junior now has 12 career long balls, which remains the third-most in program history (trails Jessica Bolanz's 24 and Chastine Romanello's 16).

Some of the most important moments of the game were in the fifth inning, when Daynna Mekaru singled to the opposite field and Larissa Baeza bunted her over to second base. Mekaru eventually came around to score on an error and Kanno finished off the inning with an RBI double, growing the advantage to 3-0.

Kanno closed it out in the circle with another two punchouts in the seventh inning to officially advance Hiram in the conference tournament bracket. The team will play either #1 DePauw or #4 Wittenberg at 3 p.m., with the winner of that game advancing to the championship round.

"No matter who we face, it's about just being ready," Kanno said.

Once again, the pitcher-catcher battery was in agreement.

"I agree, just making sure we keep the same energy rolling into the next game," Macias said.