HONOLULU, Oahu--It was deja vu all over again for the UH Hilo softball team on Saturday at the Howard Okita Softball Field.

Just like on Friday, the Vulcans dropped the first game of a doubleheader to Hawaii Pacific (4-3), only to storm back with a convincing win in the nightcap (9-1). UH Hilo improved to 13-6 on the season and in the Pacific West Conference, and still need one more win to clinch the best record in the Hawaii Pod.

The will get their chance on Sunday. Games five and six of the half dozen-series will begin at noon.

In the mercy-rule second game, the Vulcans raked the Sharks for 13 hits and Leah Gonzales cruised in the pitching circle for her fifth win of the year (5-1). UH Hilo broke open a 1-1 game with seven runs in the fifth inning and added one more in the sixth for the 9-1 (eight-run) win. 

In that fifth, UHH sent 12 hitters to the plate, busting out eight hits. Kamalei Labasan had two hits in the inning, and the Vulcans had six consecutive base knocks through the middle of the inning.

Gonzales pitched six innings, giving up five hits, one run, one walk and she struck out three. Darian Obara had three hits in the game and coupled with two hits in the first game had five for the day. Kiarra Lincoln was 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and two runs scored. Chloe Domingo and Labasan added two hits each.

In the first game, HPU built an early lead with two runs in the first and two more in the second, using five hits for a 4-0 lead. The Vulcans then got three back when the Sharks committed an error and walked a batter to set the table for Skylar Thomas. The Vulcan first baseman promptly drilled a home run over left-center field fence, her first of the season, to draw to within a run (4-3).

In the top of the sixth, the Vulcans threatened again when Thomas doubled and her pinch runner reached third base, but was stranded. HPU pitcher Malia Torres didn't allow a hit in the seventh to close the door on the Vulcans.

Obara and Thomas had two hits in the game, and Malia Risdall took the loss in the pitching circle for UHH (0-1). She allowed only three earned runs, gave up eight hits, and had no walks or strikeouts.

Noel Saunders had three of those hits to lead HPU.

After Sunday's doubleheader, the Vulcans will return to Hilo for a three-game series against the Sharks, May 6-7.