KAILUA-KONA, Hawai`i--After losing the first three games of a four-game series to Chaminade, UH HIlo needed a savior to avoid a complete sweep and they got it in Leah Gonzales.

The senior pitcher cooled off some hot Silversword bats in Sunday's nightcap to salvage a 5-1 win. Chaminade had won the first game by the same count that they won Saturday's first game, 9-1 in a five-inning mercy rule verdict. 

The Vulcans leave Kealakehe High School with a 11-4 record, both overall and in Pacific West Conference play. Chaminade improved to 10-8 on the year with the successful weekend.

Gonzales pitched a complete game (seven innings), allowing only five hits and one earned run. She worked around four walks and had one strikeout to improve to 4-1 on the season. 

UHH got Gonzales an early lead in the first inning when Vevesi Liilii drove home Kiarra Lincoln to make it 1-0. Chaminade tied it in the third via an RBI-double by Robbi Gallegos, but the Vulcans got two back in the bottom half of the inning. Lincoln led off with a double and would later score on Markie Okamoto's ground ball. The Vulcans would load the bases and Brandee Chinen would bring home Okamoto with a single to make the count 3-1. 

The home team would add insurance in the fifth when pinch-hitter Taisha Bratton launched a home run over the left-centerfield fence, and Okamoto brought home another Vulcan with a double. Gonzales did her part getting to the finish line despite Chaminade putting runners in scoring position in the fifth and sixth innings. 

Chloe Domingo had two of UHH's seven hits in the game, while Cheyne Obara had two hits for CUH.

Unfortunetely, the first game looked a lot like Saturday's first game.

The Silverswords climbed all over starter Valerie Alvarado for the second day in a row, scoring three in the first and two more in the second. The visitors would score in every inning except the fourth, tallying the final two runs that they needed for the mercy rule in the fifth. 

Conversely, the Vulcans could only manage one unearned run against Chaminade starter Taylor Genera, who was impressive for the second day in a row. She allowed just four hits to improve to 5-1 on the season. 

Lincoln had three of UHH's four hits, including a double. But Chaminade had multiple offensive stars, including Keaolani Takemura who went 3-for-4 with four RBI. Chaminade's Obara scored four times in the first game and Genera helped her own cause with two hits and two RBI. 

The Vulcans will next head to Oahu for a six-game series next Friday-Sunday against Hawaii Pacific. Friday's first game will start at noon.