IRVINE, California – The walk-off taketh and the walk-off giveth. The Hawai'i Hilo softball team opened the 2023 season with excitement on a 4-3 loss to Cal State San Bernardino and a 6-5 victory over Montana State Billings as both ended on walk-off hits in the bottom of the seventh inning.
On the back-end of a doubleheader on the first day of the Concordia Kickoff Classic at Great Park, freshman Lexie Tilton capped a three-run seventh inning with a walk-off single to right field to score Brandee Chinen from third base.
Earlier in the day, the Vulcans opened the season on the other side of the coin with having been walked off by CSU San Bernardino's Bailey Wallace on a triple in the final inning.
Hawai'i Hilo starts the season at 1-1 with three games to go in the opening weekend in Irvine.
GAME 1: HAWAI'I HILO 3, CSU SAN BERNARDINO 4
- Vulcans cashed in early in the second inning with three runs on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly by Maya Lee Saneishi and added a pair of scores on a CSUSB throwing error.
- After a short two-out rally to get across the plate in the first inning, the Coyotes answered back in the third with four consecutive hits highlighted by Alyssa Martinez's two-RBI double.
- The score remained until the final frame when after two quick outs started the inning, CSUSB's Ariana Chavarria singled to get on followed by Wallace's game-winning triple.
- Alexis Lacy got the start in the pitching circle for the Vulcans, going 6-2/3 innings with six strikeouts, and despite giving up 14 hits, the sophomore ended up surrendering just four earning runs while leaving eight total runners stranded on base..
- Hawai'i Hilo left seven runners on base including a bases-loaded situation in the sixth inning.
- Jayda Favela went 2 for 3 with one walk and recorded six putouts and one assist at shortstop.
- San Bernardino's Tereise Tosi and Alyssa Martinez each finished 3 for 4 at the plate with a double.
GAME 2: MONTANA STATE BILLINGS 5, HAWAI'I HILO 6
- The Vulcans were down two runs entering the final frame. Lana Kline walked to get on followed by Maya Lee Saneishi and Jayda Favela reaching base on fielding errors to load the bases with one out. After a pitching swap from the Yellowjackets, Brandee Chinen had an RBI knock to bring a run across. Then on a wild pitch, Saneishi beat the throw to home plate, MSUB's pitcher bobbled the tag and Jayda Favela tried to capitalize on the short window but was called out at home.
- On the next at-bat, after starting ahead with three balls before fouling off two pitches for a full count, Lexie Tilton singled through the right side for the walk-off win.
- Trinity Favela recorded two putouts and three assists at second base while hitting 2 for 4 with a single as part of a trio of Vulcans base hits in the second inning.
- Saneishi also brought the Vulcans first two runs across with a reach on an error and a single in the second and third innings, respectively.
- Lauren Avalos went the distance in the circle, giving up just two walks with five earned runs and one strikeout along with three assists. At the plate, the transfer went 2 for 3 with one run scored and an RBI on a two-strike sacrifice fly in the fourth inning.
- MSUB's Payton Meyer went 2 for 3 with three RBI and a solo homer in the sixth inning.
What's Next
Hawai'i Hilo moved to 1-1 overall, 0-0 PacWest while CSU San Bernardino moved to 1-0 (0-0 California Collegiate Athletic Association) and MSU Billings fell to 1-1 (0-0 Great Northwest Athletic Conference).
The Vulcans will have another doubleheader Saturday with second-ranked Cal State Dominguez Hills at 9 a.m. local Pacific Time (7 a.m. HT) followed by Cal State East Bay at 4:30 p.m. (2:30 p.m. HT).
