BARTOW, Florida – March 13, 2025 – Hiram extended its winning streak to three games with a doubleheader sweep over Penn State Behrend (13-5) and Mount Union (3-2) on Thursday afternoon at the Bartow Fields as part of The Spring Games.
The day featured three of the four teams that participated in the same Cleveland Regional of the 2023 NCAA Tournament, which saw Hiram sweep its way to its first ever appearance in the Super Regional round.
While the rosters have changed since then, the Terriers again took care of business and improved their record to a season-best 4-2 behind consistent pitching and timely hitting.
Game 1 Recap vs Penn State Behrend
Hiram scored multiple runs in every inning, as a starting lineup that featured seven underclasswomen totaled 13 runs on 13 hits in a one-sided affair to begin the day. Sophomore
Lola Thomas spearheaded the group with a double, triple and two RBI, while junior
Megan Moser took command of the three-spot in the order by going 2-for-2 with a team-high (and tied a career-high) three RBI.
Hiram batted around its lineup in the first inning, with six hitters reaching base safely during that span. Moser lifted a sacrifice fly before
Hannah Marlow,
Haven Papineau and
Caylen Gonzalez each roped an RBI single to pull the Terriers ahead, 4-0.
Thomas was again the catalyst in each of Hiram's next two innings of offense, lacing a double in the second inning and two-run triple in the third inning. Moser later added an RBI single to expand the lead to seven runs (9-2).
While the offense was cooking, sophomore
Sammy Ochoa was steady in the circle, working around a few unearned runs and finishing with a final line of 5 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 1 ER, 4 BB, 2 K. The Long Beach, CA native earned her first collegiate victory after inducing a groundout to end the game.
Game 2 Recap vs Mount Union
After losing to Mount Union last season, 5-1, Hiram bounced back and picked up a big victory against the in-state rival to close out the day on Thursday. It marked the Terriers' first win against the Purple Raiders since that memorable finish to the Cleveland Regional Final on May 20, 2023.
For the third straight time,
Darian Kanno logged seven innings in the circle without allowing an earned run. Mount Union broke the scoring barrier with a pair of unearned runs in the top of the first inning, but Kanno allowed just one hit for the remainder of her outing to improve to 3-0 on the season – 7 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 4 K.
It wasn't until the sixth inning when the Terriers found their path to victory.
Hiram totaled three runs on five hits in that frame, with
Fayth Kawamura leading off the inning on a single, advancing to second base on a bunt, and scoring on an RBI single from Kanno.
Daynna Mekaru and
Ari Torres each followed with a pair of singles to load the bases with just one out and the go-ahead run at second base.
Haven Papineau was next to deliver, hitting a game-tying single to right field to plate Kanno and keep the bases loaded.
Caylen Gonzalez finished off the rally by putting the ball in play and knocking the go-ahead run home on a fielder's choice.
In the top of the seventh, Kanno allowed the tying run to reach third base with no outs; a throwing error, stolen base and wild pitch gave the Purple Raiders a chance to reclaim momentum. Kanno settled in, though, by retiring each of the next three hitters and keeping the ball in the infield to strand that runner at third base and finish off the nail-biter.
What's Next
Hiram will finish its eight-game road trip with another twin bill; the Terriers will take on Catholic University at 2 p.m. and Lake Forest College at 4:15 p.m. to complete The Spring Games before heading back home to Hiram, Ohio.
