SAN RAFAEL, California – The Hawai'i Hilo softball team snatched victory from Dominican, 2-1, in the first contest of a doubleheader Saturday afternoon in Pacific West Conference play at Penguin Field.
Before the Vulcans dropped the final game of the series, 6-3, the early matchup ended at the plate on the final play.
With Hawai'i Hilo holding strong to a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the seventh, Dominican's Lauren Lapinid blasted a single up the middle to bring pinch runner Alexis Aballos home from second base. However, it was ruled the runner did not complete the play by touching home plate and was called out to end the game.
GAME 3: HAWAI'I HILO 2, DOMINICAN 1
- The Vulcans jumped on the scoreboard early with a run in each of the first two innings: first, a Trinity Favela RBI double to score Jayda Favela — who had led off with a single — followed by a Jayda Favela RBI base hit near the right-field line.
- Lauren Avalos got her third start of the season in the pitching circle and earned the victory throwing six scoreless innings before surrendering a run in the final frame. Prior to the bottom of the seventh, Avalos had scattered just four hits without giving up a walk.
- Malia Risdall entered in the seventh inning and earned her first save of the season.
- Coming into Saturday's games, the Vulcans were ranked No. 2 in the NCAA Division II with 16 double plays; good for No. 1 overall at 0.76 doubles players per game. Shortstop Jayda Favela added to the total by ending the bottom of the sixth inning with an unassisted double play on a pop up.
- Chloe Domingo finished 2 for 4 to reach a career total of 98 hits.
GAME 4: HAWAI'I HILO 3, DOMINICAN 6
- Jayda Favela started the game off with a triple to right field and scored an at-bat later with Lexie Tilton driving her in on a base hit.
- Rayna-Marie White led off the top of the third with a triple as Jayda Favela brought her in with a sacrifice fly to make it a 4-2 deficit.
- Avalos made her first appearance on the other side of the plate since the opening weekend of the season as she finished with two hits and drove in the Vulcans' third run with an RBI single in the fourth.
- Kate Tobola drove in three of the Penguins' runs as Shelby Keltner added a two-run home run. Keltner also entered the pitching circle to close out the game in the seventh for the save.
WHAT'S NEXT
Hawai'i Hilo moved to 6-10 in the PacWest (9-16 overall) while Dominican moved to a 8-4 record (11-12 overall).
The Vulcans will travel to Brisbane, California for a four-game series with Academy of Art next Monday and Tuesday.
A possibility of Hawai'i Hilo and Holy Names resuming their series from earlier this week is yet to be determined. The two teams would play Sunday in Turlock, California.
Hawai'i Hilo will then play a five-game slate in Stanislaus State's Tournament of Champions, presented by the City of Turlock next weekend.
