IRVINE, Calif.--It seemed a little bit like deja vu all over again for the UH Hilo softball Vulcans on Saturday against No. 2 nationally ranked Concordia during 2-1 and 6-1 losses.
The Vulcans had a 1-0 lead against the unbeaten Eagles in the second game before the home team rallied back (just like on Friday), and UHH also fell to the Eagles 2-1 in the opener, the same score as in Friday's first game.
The Eagles improved to 32-0 on the season and to 20-0 in the Pacific West Conference. The Vulcans, who gave Concordia all that they could handle in the four-game series, dropped to 11-13 overall and to 9-11 in league play.
In the first game, the Vulcans stranded 11 runners in the contest, including five in the first two innings. They would push across their lone run in the third courtesy of two walks and an Eagle error. They had runners on second and third in both the first and sixth innings, but couldn't plate a run.Â
Meanwhile, the Eagles scored both of their runs in the second inning, using four hits against UHH starter
Alexis Lacy.
Sara Bhatt was excellent for the Vulcans out of the bullpen, tossing nearly four innings without giving up a hit or a walk. She also fanned two. Erika Morris did the same for Concordia, entering the game in the third inning and did not give up a run, allowing three hits and striking out six. She improved to 8-0 on the season.
The Vulcans had just four hits in the game, three of them by freshman shortstop
Jayda Favela.
In the nightcap, UH Hilo worked out of a bases loaded jam in the second inning with a double play that included an out at the plate and a rundown out. UHH would then get on the board first in the third when
Skylar Thomas doubled and eventually came home on
Angel Prewitt's single. The potential second run of the inning was gunned down at home after a fly ball to left field.
Hilo's 1-0 lead lasted until the fourth inning. Concordia's Missy Nemeth doubled and Rylie Rohr singled her home to tie the game, and Kaia Nisby drove home Rohr to make it 2-1. The Eagles then broke open the game in the fifth when Rohr lifted a three-run shot over the fence, after fouling off four pitches against relief ace Bhatt.  The Eagles would add one more plate crossing in the sixth inning which would account for the final 6-1 score.
Prewitt had two hits in the game for the Vulcans and also drove in a run. But UHH could only manage three total hits against Cortney Koelmans and Katlin Entrup. Koelmans went four innings and did not allow an earned run to improve to 7-0, while Entrup came out of the bullpen for the second straight day and allowed just one hit in three innings of work.
The Vulcans continue a tough southern California swing on Monday and Tuesday when they take on 2021 NCAA national runner-up Biola.
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