TURLOCK, Calif.—If nothing else, the Hawai`i Hilo softball team is getting plenty of practice in playing pressure-packed one-run games.

For the third time in 24 hours, the Vulcans fell by just one digit—this time to No. 13 nationally ranked Chico State, 3-2, under the lights at the Pedretti Sports Complex. UH Hilo is now 1-3 at the Tournament of Champions and they are 22-14 overall. Chico State improved to 21-8 on the season and they are 3-1 in the tournament.

The Wildcats' Brooke Larsen threw 131 pitches and went the distance, fanning 10 Vulcan batters.  She improved to 13-2 on the season.

Chico State scored one run in the first and two in the second against starting Vulcan pitcher Valerie Alvarado. Pitcher Larsen drove in a run in the first and Wendy Cardinali ripped a two-run double in the second to give the Wildcats a 3-0 lead.

The Vulcans got their first hits off Larsen in the third when Maria Steadmon and Kiarra Lincoln singled. A walk loaded the bases but Larsen was able to escape without further damage. In the fourth, UH Hilo loaded the sacks again, thanks to a pair of walks and a single by Markie Okamoto, and Skylar Thomas came through with an sacrifice fly to make it a 3-1 game.

After the first two innings, Alvarado settled in and kept the 'Cats off the scoreboard. That gave the Vulcans a change to climb back, and they pulled to within a run in the sixth inning when Thomas' double brought another Vulcan across the plate (3-2).

But Larsen put the Vulcans down in order in the seventh, securing the win for the Wildcats, who are in second place in the CCAA and have been ranked as high as fourth in NCAA Division II this year.

Alvarado took the loss (6-4), despite fanning six and giving up six hits in six innings of work. Steadmon had two hits against Larsen, and Thomas finished the day with both of UHH's RBI.

The Vulcans will work to get finish the tournament with a win on Sunday morning when they take on Humboldt State (10 am Pacific).