HONOLULU, Hawai'i – Hawai'i Hilo Softball racked up 20 hits to close out a three-game sweep of Chaminade with a 17-7 victory on Sunday afternoon in Pacific West Conference play at Silversword Field at the Mauli Ola Sports Complex at Sand Island Park.
Kanoe Piltz again led the Vulcans with a 4-for-6 outing with three RBI. Victoria Macias posted five RBI with a two-run homer and a bases-clearing double as she, along with Jayda Favela and Lexie Tilton totaled three hits on the afternoon.
Despite the final score, it was a competitive contest through the early goings as both teams traded runs through the first two innings to make it a 4-3 Vulcans lead. Hawai'i Hilo, who hadn't committed a defensive error on Saturday's doubleheader, recorded four in the weekend finale, including two in the bottom of the fifth when Chaminade managed to string together three base hits for four runs to take a 7-5 advantage.
The Vulcans responded right back in the next frame, starting with Macias' two-run shot to center field to tie the score. Piltz got the rally going again with a full-count base hit followed by hits from Chenoa Cainglit and Hailey Gibson to load the bases. Kiani Nakamura drew a bases-loaded walk to bring in the game-winning run, and Favela hit a hard shot off the pitcher's glove to bring in two more runs. The hits continued with more RBI by Tilton and Piltz to cap a seven-hit, eight-run inning.
Macias and Piltz added more RBI extra-base hits in the top of the seventh to bring the game to its final score of 17-7.
Hawai'i Hilo moved to 3-0 in the PacWest (9-7 overall) as Chaminade moved to a 1-5 conference record (2-19 overall).
OTHER NOTES
- Favela brought her career hits total to 157, surpassing Mari Kawano ('15-'18) to No. 8 all-time in the record books.
- The Vulcans' 20 hits are the most in a game this season and the most since tallying 24 in a 23-3 win over Holy Names in March 2017.
- Hawai'i Hilo earned six points to take an early advantage in the softball section of the PacWest Hawai'i Challenge.
UP NEXT: Wednesday, Feb. 26 (Noon + 2 PM) vs HPU (Hilo, Hawai'i / Vulcan Softball Field)
