HILO, Hawai'i–The UH Hilo softball team dropped a pair of 5-3, 5-2 losses to Hawai'i Pacific at the UHH Softball Field Friday afternoon.
The Sharks (24-26, 17-15 PacWest) managed to avenge their two PacWest losses against the Vulcans (16-19, 12-14 PacWest) from earlier this season with wins in Hilo.
In the first game, the Sharks had a 3-0 lead by the fourth inning that the Vulcans were able to match by the seventh (3-3).
The Vulcans were trailing 3-2 in the seventh with two outs.
Brandee Chinen (3-for-5) doubled to get a late-game rally started. Fifth-year senior
Skylar Thomas then picked her up with a single, scoring the tying run (3-3).
Two extra-innings passed in a deadlock until the Sharks sent out a two-run homer that would put away the Vulcans, 5-3.
The Vulcans bounced back in the first inning of the second game, scratching the first run on the board (1-0). UHH managed to hold the one-run lead until the Sharks posted a big four-run fifth frame (4-1).
The Vulcans pushed a run across in the bottom of the fifth closing the gap, 4-2.
Angel Prewitt and
Jayda Favela singled to lead off and Prewitt ended up scoring off a sacrifice fly by Chinen (4-2).
Hawai'i Pacific matched UH Hilo's run in the sixth (5-3) and the game was called at the conclusion of the sixth due to HPU's travel plans.
The Vulcans play their final two games of the season tomorrow Saturday, April 30 at 11am and 1pm at the UHH Softball Field. A short senior ceremony will take place after the conclusion of the second game, honoring Thomas, Prewitt,
Nikki Zielinski, and
Alana Alvarez.
