LAS VEGAS, Nev.—UH Hilo rallied back from a 6-3 deficit and scored five runs in the top of eighth for a 11-6 comeback victory over Concordia (Ore.) on Saturday afternoon at the Desert Stinger.
The rally keeps the Vulcans unbeaten in the tournament and on the season at 3-0. Concordia fell to 2-2 with the loss.
UH Hilo, trailing 6-3 heading into the top of the seventh, scored three runs to tie the game and send it to an extra frame. They then exploded for the five-spot and shut down the Cavaliers in order in the bottom half of the eighth to claim the win.
Bailey Gaspar led the UHH offense, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored, two RBI and two doubles.
Brinell Kaleikini went 2-for-4 with a double,
Isabelle Mejia was 2-for-5 with two runs, two RBI and a double, and
Darian Obara had a pair of hits. Sklyer Thomas walked four times and had two RBI, and
Mari Kawano scored three times.
Cyanne Fernandez came out of the bullpen to pick up her second win of the season (2-0), subbing for Mejia. Fernandez pitched 6.1 innings, gave up only four hits, two earned runs, three walks and five strikeouts.
Mejia had a key two-run double in the critical seventh inning and a Thomas ground out brought home the tying run (6-6). The Vulcans left the bases loaded, but made up for that in the eighth.
In the international tie-breaker inning, Gaspar drove in a run, as did
Kacie Freudenberger. Thomas walked to bring home another run, and then two Cavalier errors brought in two insurance runs, leaving matters to Fernandez to close things out.
She did, setting down Concordia 1-2-3 in the bottom half of the eighth.
The Vulcans will wrap up Desert Stinger play on Sunday with a 11:30 am (Pacific) match-up with Sonoma State and a 2 pm game with Saint Martin's.
