HONOLULU, Hawai'i – With the second day of action at the Ulili Softball Invitational, the Hawai'i Hilo Softball team split a 6-2 decision to Ferris State before topping Nebraska-Kearney, 5-4, Friday afternoon at the Mauli Ola Sports Complex at Sand Island Park.
Through the two days of non-conference play, the Vulcans went 3-1 with additional wins over Hillsdale and No. 22 Lewis.
UP NEXT: Saturday, Feb. 8 (Noon + 2 PM) vs Cal Poly Humboldt (Honolulu, Hawai'i (O'ahu) / Mauli Ola Sports Complex at Sand Island Park)
FERRIS STATE 6, HAWAI'I HILO 2
- Three Vulcans pitchers combined to give up 10 total walks to just one allowed by the Bulldogs. Madi Lee got the start followed by 4.0 innings of relief work by Janessa Santos and closing with 1.2 innings by Lauren Otsubo.
- Chasing three runs after 3.5 innings, the Vulcans rallied with base hits by Victoria Macias and Miquela Leopoldo before Kiani Nakamura launched a two-run triple over the left fielder's head to plate both Hawai'i Hilo runs of the game.
- The Vulcans defense flashed some of their leather with three clutch double plays, getting the first in the opening frame to stymie three lead-off walks and prevent any runs from scoring. A double play to end the top of the second prevented further damage with the bases loaded and the third came an inning later with two runners on to also end the threat.
- Mariah Antoque had six assists at third base.
NEBRASKA-KEARNEY 4, HAWAI'I HILO 5
- Chenoa Cainglit helped get the Vulcans on the scoreboard with an RBI double and a run scored on a wild pitch for a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second.
- UNK jumped ahead with a pair of runs in each of the third and fourth innings after managing five hits together.
- Lexie Tilton led off the bottom of the fifth with a triple down the right field line and got a run back after scoring on a Macias fielder's choice with additional help from a mishandled rundown by the Lopers defense. Leopoldo singled and Antoque smashed a two-RBI triple to right-center field to bring across the game-winning run.
- Nebraska-Kearney threatened in the top of the sixth with two runners on but came up empty as Madison Rabe later closed out the top of the seventh with just six pitches for the complete-game victory.
