CLEVELAND, Ohio - April 29, 2025 - Hiram gave the No. 17 team in all of Division III a true test on Tuesday afternoon, as Darian Kanno came inches away from logging her second career no-hitter and Megan Moser launched her second career home run in a pair of losses to Case Western Reserve, 1-0 and 9-1, at Mather Field.

Runs came at a premium in Game 1, which featured a pitcher's duel between reigning NFCA All-Region selections in Kanno and Lexi Miskey. Kanno didn't surrender a hit through the first six innings, while Miskey allowed three singles to Danielle Robles and a double to Fayth Kawamura during that span, although no runs came across to score.

In just over an hour, two of the best right-handed pitchers in all of Division III had hung 12 zeroes on the scoreboard. For those familiar with recent Hiram softball history, it was nearly two years ago when those same two pitchers had a similar display of brilliance in the 2023 NCAA Regionals, when Kanno outdueled Miskey and moved Hiram one win closer to its first ever Super Regional appearance at the same Mather Field.

Miskey would win this round, though, as she stranded two runners on base in the top of the seventh before the Spartans broke through in the bottom half of the frame with their first hit of the game, a leadoff double to the left-field wall. That runner eventually came around to score on a fielder's choice, leaving Kanno with the tough-luck loss and another incredible pitching line against a team that could very well be in the national championship conversation: 6.1 IP, 1 H, 1 R/ER, 1 BB, 5 K.

Game 2 was highlighted by the second career home run for Moser, who lifted a ball just inside the left-field foul pole for her first long ball since March 21, 2023 against John Carroll. The homer came against CWRU's Kylie Hosey, who now has a 3.15 ERA this season.

The Spartans would then score seven unanswered runs to close out the non-conference matchup in six innings. Two home runs by Karen Potts highlighted the individual contributions for the home team.

Hiram will close out the regular season on Saturday, when it travels to Gambier, OH for a pair of games against Kenyon. The team will then prepare for the NCAC Tournament, which starts on Thursday, May 8.