TURLOCK, California – After 17 games through two weeks in California, the Hawai'i Hilo Softball team is headed back home after wrapping up play at the Tournament of Champions, presented by the City of Turlock with a narrow loss to Cal Poly Humboldt, 2-1, Sunday morning at Stanislaus State's Warrior Softball Field.
The Vulcans finished the weekend at 2-3 with victories over Chico State and Stanislaus State. A scheduled matchup with Sonoma State was ruled a no contest after inclement weather halted the game in the second inning and was not continued.
Victoria Macias was named to the Tournament of Champions All-Tournament Team after batting .400 (6 for 15) and racking up eight RBI with two doubles, a triple and two home runs (1.066 slugging). The freshman collected 31 putouts and one defensive assist at first base (1.000 fielding).
HAWAI'I HILO 1 - CAL POLY HUMBOLDT 2
- Madison Rabe made her eighth start in the pitching circle, scattering a season-high nine hits while posting a fourth-consecutive four-strikeout outing. The Lumberjacks gathered a combined five hits in the first, second, fourth and sixth innings but they were all left stranded without scoring a run.
- Cal Poly Humboldt broke a scoreless game with consecutive doubles in the third inning to plate a run.
- Hawai'i Hilo responded in the next frame on a two-out rally with a double from Lexie Tilton cashed in by a two-strike RBI single from Kanoe Piltz to even the score. Makena Nera followed by drawing a 10-pitch walk, but the Vulcans couldn't further capitalize as that would be the last time they got a runner over into scoring position.
- In the bottom of the fifth, the Lumberjacks managed back-to-back hits to bring the go-ahead score across.
- Lumberjacks looked to do further damage in the sixth inning with a two-out rally. After consecutive hits, Alyssa Ramirez added another single to center field as the lead runner tried to stretch it out by rounding third and heading home, but Maya Lee Saneishi gunned her out at the plate to end the inning.
- Gaige Garcia got the win in the pitching circle, going the full distance with nine strikeouts and just one walk allowed.
UP NEXT
Hawai'i Hilo moved to a 14-14 record (8-10 Pacific West Conference) while Cal Poly Humboldt moved to 15-14 (5-7 CCAA).
The Vulcans will return to the Big Island for their next home games set for March 29-30 against Academy of Art at the Vulcan Softball Field.
With the final month of competition coming up, Hawai'i Hilo will look to keep the wins coming in hopes of booking a return trip to the mainland for the four-team PacWest Conference Championship postseason tournament set for May 1-3 in San Rafael, California at Dominican.
