TUCSON, Ariz.--Aracely Araiza had two hits and drove in four runs for her Texas Permian Basin team, helping the Falcons defeat Hawaii HIlo 6-4 in the final game of the Cactus Classic on Sunday afternoon.
The Vulcans leave Arizona with a 4-3 record in the tournament, and they are 5-7 overall. Texas Permian Basin is now 8-7 on the year.
Araiza's two hits included a two-run double in the first inning to give the Falcons a lead that they wouldn't give up. That double came with two outs after an error kept the inning alive.
Texas Permian Basin would add two more runs in the third on four hits to take a 4-0 lead. The Vulcans would get two back in the third when
Markie Okamoto singled home a run and scored herself on an error. UHH pulled to within one run in the fourth on a
Kimberly Olivas RBI-single to make it 4-3, but the Falcons added insurance in the sixth with two runs, again on four singles to increase their lead to 6-3. UHH would make one last effort in the bottom of the sixth with
Kiarra Lincoln's RBI-double, but in the seventh they would leave a runner stranded to end the game.
Kamalei Labasan had two hits for UH Hilo, who had seven total.
Billi Derleth pitched the first 4.1 innings and took the loss, with
Leah Gonzales pitching the final 3.2 stanzas.
The Vulcans, who played seven games in four days in Tucson, will return to Hilo for a long break before their home openers on Feb. 28-29 against Biola.