KANE'OHE, Hawai'i – Mistakes and miscues often lead to defeat while coming up with big plays tends to result in victory. That was potentially the tale of two games Friday afternoon as the Hawai'i Hilo Softball team split a twinbill with HPU, a 3-2 loss and a 1-0 win, in non-conference play at Howard A. Okita Field.
Official stats and box scores were not available at time of postgame release.
In Game 1, HPU managed to score all three of its runs in the bottom of the fourth aided by six free bases to batters — a dropped-third strikeout, a hit batsman and four walks. In the ensuing frame, the Sharks returned the favor with four walks as the Vulcans brought two runners across the plate, but that would be it the rest of the way.
Chloe Sales got the start in the pitching circle and made quick work of the Sharks until seemingly losing the strike zone in the fourth inning.
Game 2 saw the Vulcans get the lone run of the game on the scoreboard early with an RBI single from Victoria Macias in the top of the first inning. Defensively, Hawai'i Hilo held strong by coming up huge on a handful of plays to stop the Sharks' momentum. Rayna White and Lexie Tilton each made fantastic diving catches in the outfield, while catcher Kanoe Piltz made a leaping stop on an off-line relayed throw to back-pick an HPU lead runner at third base.
Tara Skinner got the nod in the pitching circle for Game 2 as Linsea Strauch came in late to close out the win.
UP NEXT
Hawai'i Hilo moved to a 3-1 record (0-0 Pacific West Conference) while HPU moved to 3-5 overall (0-0 PacWest).
The Vulcans remain on O'ahu and will be back at HPU's Howard A. Okita Field Saturday to play a doubleheader against Western Oregon.
Hawai'i Hilo will be back to O'ahu next weekend for more games against HPU, Feb. 24-25, before returning to the Big Island to host Dominican (March 1-2).
VIDEO STREAM PACKAGES
The Hawai'i Hilo Softball team will have 14 home games available to be viewed online in partnership with Out of the Sea Media Arts Inc.
Single-game viewing will be priced at $7.50 with a season-package offering of $78.75.
More information is available at HiloAthletics.com/LiveStream.