WAIPAHU, Hawai`i--Rain not only darkened the mood of a 4-3 loss for the Hawai`i Hilo softball team on Saturday against Chaminade, it also cost them a chance for redemption.

Chaminade scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning in the opener, and rain washed out the second contest off the schedule at Patsy T. Mink Central Oahu Regional Park. Game two won't be made up. It was the second weekend in a row that the Silverswords won the opener of a doubleheader against the Vulcans, but UH Hilo had a chance to bounce back last week, winning the nightcap. 

The Vulcans, who will wrap up the regular season on Sunday against Hawai`i Pacific at noon, fall to 29-17 on the year and to 22-11 in the Pacific West Conference. Chaminade is now 13-34 on the year and 10-25 in conference action.

Like last week, Chaminade's Madelyn Stockslager pitched well against the Vulcans. The visitors didn't get on the board until the third inning, using singles from Markie Okamoto and Kiarra Lincoln to plate a run. By then, the Silverswords already had a 3-0 lead against Vulcan ace Isabelle Mejia.

Mejia helped her own cause with a solo home run to lead off the fourth inning to cut the lead to 3-2. The Vulcans then tied the contest in the top of the seventh, when down to their last out, Vevesi Liilii kept things alive with a double down the left field line. Okamoto followed with her second hit of the day to bring home Liilii to tie the contest at 3-3. 

In the bottom half, Kayla Henmi got a rally started for the Silverswords with a single, and after a hit batter and a fielder's choice, moved up to third.  She would score moments later on a wild pitch to bring a stunning end to the game and give the Silverswords the edge in the season series (2-1).

Okamoto went 2-for-3 for the Vulcans, scoring a run and driving in one. Mejia hit her fourth home run of the season, but also picked up her fourth loss in the pitcher's circle to move to 11-4 on the year.