HILO, Hawai'i – After a day of rain outs, the sun came out to play as Hawai'i Hilo hosted Biola for two of a scheduled four-game series of Pacific West Conference action with the Vulcans falling twice, 6-3 and 3-1, Saturday afternoon at the Vulcan Softball Field.
The Vulcans played mostly sound in all aspects of the game but just couldn't quite catch up to the Eagles' offensive firepower as they were outhit, 21-9, through both games.
Friday's first doubleheader of the scheduled four-game series was canceled due to inclement weather.
GAME 1: BIOLA 6, HAWAI'I HILO 3
- Dyoni Garcia had herself a tremendous outing, batting 3 for 3 with two RBI and one run scored. The freshman was responsible for the Vulcans' first two runs after twice coming in clutch with two outs; first on a RBI-double to center field in the first inning followed by an RBI-single in the third inning.
- After Garcia led off the bottom of the sixth with a single and moved over to third on a wild pitch and a sacrifice bunt, Brandee Chinen brought her in with an RBI-double to make it a one-run game at a 4-3 deficit.
- On the flip side, Abie Nowak did the damage for Biola, batting 2 for 4 with three RBI after first driving in two runs in the third inning with a two-out double to center field. Abie Nowak doubled again in the seventh inning to bring across the Eagles' fifth run.
- Colby McClinton and Kaitlyn Hawkins each scored two runs while totaling three and two hits, respectively.
- The Eagles scored the game-winning run in the sixth inning after executing on small-ball action with a Hawkins lead-off single followed by back-to-back sacrifice bunts before cashing in with Rilee Ruvalcaba's RBI base knock through the right side.
GAME 2: BIOLA 3, HAWAI'I HILO 1
- Abie Nowak again got things going for the Eagles with an RBI single in the third inning as she finished game two batting 2 for 4 with a run scored.
- Alexis Lara batted 3 for 4 and potentially robbed a home run from the Vulcans' Garcia in the sixth inning after tracking back to the left-field fence and making a catch at the top of the protective barrier.
- Down 2-0 in the fifth inning, Hawai'i Hilo started to get things going after Madison Smith reached on an error followed by Brandee Chinen beating the throw on a laid-down bunt for the single. Two batters later, Chinen stole second as the throw down from the catcher was wide right, allowing Smith to come home to make it a 2-1 ballgame. But the Vulcans couldn't add on any further as they ended the inning with back-to-back ground outs to the pitcher.
WHAT'S NEXT
Hawai'i Hilo moved to 0-6 in the PacWest (3-12 overall) while Biola improved to a 9-1 record (16-5 overall).
The Vulcans will have a week off before hosting their final series of the home-opening conference slate against Azusa Pacific (0-0 Pacwest, 7-5 overall) March 3-4.
Hawai'i Hilo will return for its final home games against Chaminade and HPU at the end of April.
