IRVINE, California – Hawai'i Hilo Softball opened its 2026 campaign with a doubleheader split on Friday — a 3-1 defeat to No. 17 Cal State East Bay and a 5-1 win over Fort Lewis — as part of the CUI Kickoff Classic at the Orange County Great Park.
Senior Rayna White combined for a .500 hitting day on four hits with two RBI and one walk. The right fielder also recorded two putouts and two assists.
Tehani Seto (1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K) and Janessa Santos (1 ER, 5 K) went the distance in the pitching circle during their respective outings in Game 1 and Game 2.
Junior transfer Harley Acosta was stout at third base with 1.000 fielding on the day on eight total chances — converting three putouts and three assists against her former team Cal State East Bay.
GAME NOTES
- Other starters for both games: Ava Monturio (1B), Mariah Antoque (SS), Harley Acosta (3B), Lexie Tilton (LF), Ke'alohi Markham (CF), Santos (DP/P)
- Vulcans defense combined for six total errors on the day.
- Hawai'i Hilo: 1-1 Overall (0-0 PacWest)
- Preseason Coaches Poll: No. 6
- No. 17 Cal State East Bay: 1-0 Overall (0-0 CCAA)
- Hayward, California
- California Collegiate Athletic Association
- Preseason Coaches Poll: No. 1
- Fort Lewis: 0-2 Overall (0-0 RMAC)
- Durango, Colorado
- Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
- Preseason Coaches Poll: No. 10
UP NEXT
- CUI Kickoff Classic
- Saturday, Jan. 31 (6:30 AM) vs San Francisco State (Irvine, California)
- Saturday, Jan. 31 (1:30 PM) vs CSU Monterey Bay (Irvine, California)
- Sunday, Feb. 1 (9 AM) vs No. 14 Cal State San Marcos (Irvine, California)
- Tuesday, Feb. 10 (NOON + 2:30 PM) vs Cal Poly Humboldt (Vulcan Softball Field)
PACWEST PRESEASON POLL
Hawai'i Hilo was voted No. 6 in the Pacific West Conference Preseason Coaches Poll. The Vulcans finished the 2025 regular season at No. 6 in the conference standings. The four-team 2026 PacWest Championships postseason tournament will be hosted by Biola on May 5-7 in La Mirada, California
BUY LIVESTREAM PACKAGE
Video livestreaming will be available for all home events this season through the PacWest Network, powered by Hudl TV. More information is available at HiloAthletics.com/livestream. Single-game passes for softball are offered at $10, doubleheader day passes at $17.50 and a season-package (18 games) price of $135.