LA MIRADA, California – The Hawai'i Hilo Softball team conjured its magic once again to charge back for a late-game series-opening victory over Biola, 6-4, in 10 innings Monday afternoon in Pacific West Conference action at Freedom Field. The Vulcans subsequently fell, 3-1, in the nightcap to split the first doubleheader of the series.

Game 1 was stymied by three lightning delays occurring in the top of the third, bottom of the fourth and bottom of the seventh innings.

The opening-series victory broke a six-game skid, having lost four of those by just a single run.

GAME 1: HAWAI'I HILO 6 - BIOLA 4 (10 INNINGS)

• Nearing their final outs, the Vulcans got things going in the top of the sixth as Rayna White singled for her second hit of the day to account for the team's only hits at the time. Victoria Macias followed up with a two-run slam over the left-field fence to cut the score to just one run.
• Now down to their final outs an inning later, Maya Lee Saneishi splashed a two-out triple to deep center field to keep the Vulcans alive. Kiani Nakamura clutched up to bring in the game-tying run on a two-strike single to left field.
• Another 30-minute lightning delay added much anticipation for the final at-bat of regulation as Biola pitcher Raylene Roybal drew a one-out walk to put the game-winning runner on. But on the ensuing at-bat, Makena Nera snagged a hard-hit line drive at the hot corner before firing across the diamond to double up Roybal for an inning-ending double play.
• With international tiebreaker rules at the start of the top of the 10th inning (a runner placed at second base), Jayda Favela reached on a misplayed sacrifice bunt before moving over on a stolen base, priming White for a two-RBI slam to give the Vulcans the lead. Dyoni Garcia later added an insurance run with a deep sacrifice fly out to score White.
• Biola loaded the bases in the bottom half of the inning and inched closer with a RBI base hit to make it a 6-4 score. But Hawai'i Hilo once again flashed the leather with a game-ending double play on a hard chopper to Nera at third, who fired home for Kanoe Piltz to finish off on a dart to first base.
• All four of the Eagles runs were marked as unearned. Chloe Sales got the start and went just 1.0 inning before making way for Linsea Strauch, who went the rest of the way for 9.0 innings of work, scattering eight hits for three unearned runs.

GAME 2: HAWAI'I HILO 1 - BIOLA 3

• Vulcans got on the scoreboard early with Jayda Favela and Lexie Tilton stringing together base hits for a 1-0 advantage.
• Biola drew a lead-off walk and managed a base hit to put two runners on for Roybal to ding a two-RBI double to right-center field, but the Vulcans minimized damage by gunning her out at third base trying to stretch it to a triple.
• Hawai'i Hilo stranded a pair of runners in each of the second, fourth, fifth and seventh innings.
• Chasing two runs entering the final inning, the Vulcans got base runners on with a White walk and a Macias single, but the Eagles managed to close out the final two outs of the inning to even the series score.

UP NEXT

Hawai'i Hilo moved to a 11-11 record (6-10 PacWest) while Biola moved to 3-7 in conference (8-11 overall). The two teams will be back at it Tuesday for another doubleheader.

The Vulcans will then play six contests as part of the Tournament of Champions, presented by the City of Turlock hosted by Stanislaus State. Hawai'i Hilo will play Cal State San Marcos (March 21), Cal State East Bay (March 22), Chico State (March 22), Sonoma State (March 23), Stanislaus State (March 23) and Cal Poly Humboldt (March 24).

Next home games are set for March 29-30 against Academy of Art at the Vulcan Softball Field.