HILO, Hawai'i – Chloe Sales tossed 12.0 scoreless innings to lead Hawai'i Hilo Softball to a 2-1 series victory over Vanguard in Pacific West Conference play this weekend at the Vulcan Softball Field. Vulcans fell, 5-4, in extra innings to open the three-game matchup before coming back to take 3-0 and 9-0 victories.
The senior lefty posted pitching lines of 7.0 innings (no hits, no runs, two strikeouts, no walks) and 5.0 innings (no runs, two hits) for back-to-back shutout complete-game victories. In the 3-0 Game 2 win, Sales induced 17 groundouts and helped herself with five defensive assists.
The 2024 All-PacWest Third Teamer dropped her conference (PacWest play only) ERA to 2.19 and now shares the lead with four total shutouts.
Hawai'i Hilo moved to 15-12 in the PacWest (21-19 overall) as Vanguard moved to a 7-15 conference record (12-26 overall). Vulcans remain at No. 6 in the current conference standings with Vanguard at No. 7.
UP NEXT: Friday, April 11 (NOON + 2 PM) vs Biola (Hilo, Hawai'i / Vulcan Softball Field)
GAME 1: VANGUARD 5, HAWAI'I HILO 4 (9 INNINGS)
- After four scoreless innings, the Lions managed to plate a pair of runs highlighted by an RBI triple from Kamryn Walker. Vanguard added another run in the top of the seventh to take a 3-0 lead.
- Seemingly down to their final outs in regulation, the Vulcans rallied with four hits to tie the game. Victoria Macias batted in a run and Lexie Tilton added two more with a triple of her own but was left stranded 60 feet away to enter extra innings.
- VU's Mia Hernandez managed a two-RBI double in the top of the ninth.
- Vulcans looked ready to rally again with the top of the lineup getting on with back-to-back singles as Macias drove in another run with a sacrifice fly. However, that would be all as the Lions sealed up the 5-4 extra-inning win.
- Jayda Favela and Rayna White each totaled three hits in the No. 1 and No. 2 batting spots, respectively — combining for three RBI.
GAME 2: VANGUARD 0, HAWAI'I HILO 3
- Sales made her 12th start of the season and faced just two additional batters over the minimum of 21 — both getting on base with a hit-by-pitch.
- Favela again totaled three hits, bringing in the Vulcans second run with an RBI single.
GAME 3: VANGUARD 0, HAWAI'I HILO 4
- Sales again got the start and went three batters over the minimum (a walk and two hits) of 15 in the truncated five-inning contest due to the eight-run mercy rule limit.
- Vulcans exploded for four and five runs, respectively, in the third and fourth innings.
OTHER NOTES
- Favela brought her career hits total to 196, moving to No. 3 all-time in program history — surpassing Emily Greene's ('12-'15) mark of 193. The senior is also tied at No. 3 with Bailey Gaspar ('16-'18) at 119 career runs scored.
- Favela's season mark of 66 hits is currently tied at No. 3 in Division II behind Delaney Garden's (Lewis University) total of 70 and Emily Blackwell's (North Greenville) tally of 67.
