TURLOCK, Calif.--Western Washington scored three times via a two-out rally in the third inning, which was enough to push them to a victory over Hawai`i Hilo and get some revenge at the same time on Friday morning at the Tournament of Champions, hosted by Stanislaus State.

The Vikings, who lost to the Vulcans back in February at the Dixie State tournament, improved to 9-16 on the season, while UH Hilo dropped to 15-9. The Vulcans will now turn around and play Northwest Nazarene at 2 pm Pacific, like WWU, the Skyhawks are from the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. 

With the score tied 1-1 in the top of the third, the Vikings stayed alive with a pair of singles and a walk, loading the bases for Sam Silver. The third baseman responded with a triple to center field, bringing home all three runs and giving pitcher Anna Kasner all the support that she would need. Kasner improved to 5-7 on the year, giving up only one earned run in seven innings of work. She scattered six hits and fanned nine Vulcan batters. 

UH Hilo scored an unearned run in the first inning, and another on Bailey Gaspar's solo shot in the third---the senior third baseman's ninth homer of the season. The Vulcans had runners on second and third with one out in the fifth, and had runners on first and second in the seventh, but Kasner closed the door each time.

UH Hilo's Isabelle Mejia had control issues in the pitcher's circle and took the loss (2-3). She walked six Viking batters in 2.2 innings of work before giving way to Leah Gonzales. Gonzales pitched 4.1 solid innings in relief, giving up only two hits and no runs.

Mari Kawano had three of UHH's six hits. Gaspar, Mejia and Markie Okamoto had the others, and Gaspar also walked twice.