HONOLULU, Hawai'i – Hawai'i Hilo Softball had its 2025 season come to a close with a 2-1 defeat to HPU in Pacific West Conference play Saturday afternoon at the Mauli Ola Sports Complex at Sand Island Park.
The Vulcans jumped on the scoreboard early with a two-out RBI double by Lexie Tilton to plate a run in the opening frame, but that would be all as HPU pitcher Taylor Thompson managed to total nine strikeouts — the second highest number by Vulcans batters this season.
HPU plated a pair of runs in the third inning with three extra-base hits as the score remained the rest of the way. Hawai'i Hilo stranded five total runners on the base paths through the last two innings of play.
On the final day of the regular season, the Vulcans were still in contention for claiming one of four PacWest Conference Championships postseason tournament spots and were in a three-way bout with Azusa Pacific and Dominican for the final two berths. In addition to needing to have won Saturday's matchup, the Vulcans also needed help with a doubleheader sweep by either Vanguard (against APU) or Menlo (against Dominican) — of which neither team accomplished.
Hawai'i Hilo finishes its season at 27-22 overall with a 21-15 record in PacWest Conference play.
FINAL NOTES
- Jayda Favela Final Career Program Records: No. 1 Stolen Bases (77), No. 2 Runs Scored (129), No. 2 Hit-By-Pitch (16), No. 3 Hits (207), No. 4 Triples (6), No. T8 Walks (64), No. 8 Batting Average (.350).
- Favela 2025 Single-Season Program Records: No. T2 Hits (77), No. T2 Stolen Bases (22), No. 4 Batting Average (.423), No. 5 Runs Scored (47).
- Victoria Macias Career Program Records Update: No. 9 Doubles (28), No. 10 RBI (88), No. T10 Home Runs (12).
- Macias 2025 Single-Season Program Records: No. 4 RBI (49), No. 8 Hits (66).
- Tilton tied the single-season record with six triples while now ranking No. 3 with 11 total in her career.
- Chenoa Cainglit received eight hit-by-pitch this season, ranking at a tie for No. 3 — No. T4 with 10 career HBP.
- Rayna White finishes the season also ranked No. 8 with 64 career walks.
- Fourth-year head coach Aisha Sueda ends the season with a 86-84 career record after back-to-back winning seasons.
UP NEXT: 2026 Season
PACWEST HAWAI'I CHALLENGE: The 2024-25 PacWest Hawai'i Challenge was wrapped up this past weekend with the results of Friday's baseball and softball games. This year's competition between Hawai'i's three Division-II schools ends with both Hawai'i Hilo and HPU finishing tied with a score of 23. Vulcans Softball went a combined 11-1 against both the Silverswords and the Sharks this season, joining the women's soccer, women's basketball and men's golf teams in earning maximized points for their sport section of the competition. Hawai'i Hilo has claimed winning rights three out of the last four seasons.
