LA MIRADA, Calif.--The UH Hilo softball team played two extra-inning games against Biola in the PacWest doubleheader at Freedom Field. The Vulcans dropped a close 1-0 game to the Eagles in the ninth inning of the first game and came back to win 5-2 over BU in the ninth inning of the second game.
The Vulcans (12-14, 10-12 in PacWest Conference) sought revenge after their 1-0 loss to the Eagles (18-13, 13-9 PacWest) in the first game. Biola out-hit the Vulcans 11-2 with the Eagles' Paige Austin and Jennifer Morinishi accumulating seven K's against UHH in the pitching circle.Â
Freshman Alexis Lacy performed well on the mound, but the lack of offensive support resulted in the Vulcans 1-0 loss.Â
The roles reversed in the second part of the double header where UHH out-hit BU, 11-8 in the Vulcans' 5-2 win.Â
The Vulcans originally led 2-0 until Biola tied up the game in the fifth inning. From there both teams put up zeros until the Vulcans' standout inning in the top of the ninth. UH Hilo capitalized on two hits and two errors to score three runs. Maya Saneishi started the inning by getting on base off a BU error. Jayda Favela then singled with a bunt to give the Vulcans runners on first and second with no outs.Â
Angel Prewitt moved the runners over with a weak grounder to the right side, giving the Vulcans runners in scoring position with only one out. Makenna Goldbeck then got on by an Eagle error. Nikki Zielinski came up after Goldbeck with bases loaded and produced a sacrifice fly that scored the go-ahead run (3-2). Arissa Lugo followed Zielinski with a clutch double that cashed in two insurance runs for the Vulcans (5-2).
A 1-2-3 inning on the mound for Sara Bhatt concluded the game in the Vulcans' favor 5-2. Tehani Seto started on the rubber, allowing five hits in the first four innings.Â
The Vulcans' 17-game road trip continues to the Tournament of Champions hosted by Stanislaus State in Turlock, Calif. UHH is scheduled to play five non-conference games against Cal State San Bernardino, Cal State Dominguez Hills, Cal Poly Humboldt, Sonoma State, and San Francisco State.
CLICK HERE, to go to the Tournament of Champions tournament central page.
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