IRVINE, California – Hawai'i Hilo Softball dropped back-to-back heartbreakers in one-run defeats to San Francisco State, 3-2, and Cal State Monterey Bay, 5-4, on Saturday as part of the season-opening CUI Kickoff Classic at the Orange County Great Park.
Senior Rayna White continued her hot start at the plate with three more hits (seven season total) and three more RBI (five season total) through the doubleheader, bringing her batting average up to .467 through the first four games of action.
Kanoe Piltz has posted a .444 season batting average after going 3 for 6 on Saturday.
Madi Lee (2.1 IP, 2 ER, 2 K), Tehani Seto (4.2 IP, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K), Mia Castillo (2.1 IP, 3 ER, 1 K) and Madison Rabe (4.1 IP, 1 ER, 1 K) each saw action in the pitching circle combining to surrender just four walks.
GAME NOTES
- Game 1: San Francisco State 3 - Hawai'i Hilo 2
- SFSU's Shaunessy Cardwell drove in all three of the Gators runs with a two-RBI double in the T3 and a RBI single in the T7.
- Hawai'i Hilo rallied late with an RBI single from White in the B7, but the game-tying run was stranded at second base.
- SFSU's Kharime Caratachea entered into the pitching circle in the final half-inning after the Vulcans' first two batters got on base. Caratachea finished with the save.
- Harley Acosta tallied a pair of base hits (.500).
- Breeann Leong (second base) recorded six assists and one putout (1.000) with a double play.
- Ava Monturio totaled 14 putouts (1.000) at first base.
- Lee was the losing pitcher on record (0-1).
- Game 2: Hawai'i Hilo 4 - Cal State Monterey Bay 5
- CSUMB's Catherin Calzada totaled three RBI with a game-tying two-RBI single in the B3 and the eventual game-winning walk-off RBI single in the B7.
- CSUMB's Kieley Ganaden led off the B7 with a base hit, moved over twice on sacrifice bunts and came across for the game-winning walk-off run. Ganaden also hit a lead-off triple in the B3 before scoring on the next at-bat as part of a three-run frame to tie the score at 4-4.
- Lexie Tilton (.500), White (.500) and Piltz (.666) each totaled a pair of hits.
- Rabe was the losing pitcher on record (0-1).
- Hawai'i Hilo: 1-3 Overall (0-0 PacWest)
- Preseason Coaches Poll: No. 6
- San Francisco State: 1-2 Overall (0-0 CCAA)
- San Francisco, California
- California Collegiate Athletic Association
- Preseason Coaches Poll: No. 4
- Cal State Monterey Bay: 3-1 Overall (0-0 CCAA)
- Seaside, California
- California Collegiate Athletic Association
- Preseason Coaches Poll: No. 7
UP NEXT
- CUI Kickoff Classic
- 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.
