HIRAM, Ohio – April 18, 2025 – Hiram's Senior Day ended in victorious fashion on Friday evening at Herndon Field, as the Terriers took care of business against Ohio Wesleyan, 4-0 and 9-4. The two wins improved Hiram's conference record to 7-1, which trails only DePauw (8-0) and Denison (9-1) for the best in the NCAC.

Seniors Darian Kanno and Fayth Kawamura were both honored before the doubleheader to celebrate their eight combined seasons of collegiate softball, which has encompassed two conference championships and the program's first ever trip to the NCAA Super Regionals.

Kanno has earned three All-NCAC First Team Selections, NCAC Newcomer of the Year in 2022, NCAC Pitcher of the Year in 2023 and three NFCA All-Region Selections across her first three seasons with the program. She currently stands as the program's all-time leader in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, total bases, earned run average, opponent batting average, strikeouts and wins.

Kawamura has established herself as one of the elite defenders in the region throughout her career, earning All-NCAC Second Team in 2022 and All-NCAC First Team in 2024, while also adding the prestigious NFCA All-Region selection to her resume this past season. The shortstop has also displayed a keen ability to put the ball in play, as evidenced by just 39 strikeouts in 355 career at-bats.

Together, the two seniors – both of whom are from Hawaii and have been friends on and off the field – enjoyed another two victories together.

"What made it really special was seeing all of our families come out," Kawamura said after the game. "It was really cool to see our families and friends show up and be part of today's games."

Kanno, who improved to 12-0 in the circle and launched the 16^th home run of her career, agreed with that sentiment.

"Obviously emotions were really high the entire day with it being Senior Day," Kanno said. "But I think we were all like, 'Let's just have fun.' That carried over and we played more relaxed than we have in the past."

Kanno added to her All-American-caliber resume with her third shutout of the season; only three opposing players reached base safely for the entirety of the outing, giving the Mililani, HI native a dazzling final line: 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R/ER, 0 BB, 9 K. The senior is now 12-0 in 12 appearances this season, which already ties her career-high for wins in a single season (12 wins in 2023).

Kanno also knocked in two of Hiram's four runs in the opening game, including a sacrifice fly in the third inning and a solo home run in the sixth. With 16 career home runs, she has now tied Chastine Romanello for the second-most homers in program history (Jessica Bolanz, 24).

Kayla Prigge added a pinch-hit, two-run single to cap off the 4-0 win in Game 1.

In Game 2, Hiram erased a 2-0 and 3-2 deficit to complete the doubleheader sweep. Lillie Greene came on in relief and worked 4.2 innings of one-run ball to earn the win, while all 10 Terriers batters in the game recorded at least one hit.

Kawamura delivered the decisive blow, a go-ahead two-run double in the fourth inning that gave Hiram a 4-3 lead. Daynna Mekaru was responsible for the next two RBI on a single in the fourth and a fielder's choice in the sixth. Three more unearned runs later came across to increase the lead to 9-3.

Greene, who has now earned a win in each of her last five outings, finished the game with just one seventh-inning run charged to her ledger.

The Terriers will return to non-conference play on Wednesday, when they take on Baldwin Wallace for a doubleheader beginning at 3:30 p.m. in Berea, OH.