HILO, Hawai'i – Hawai'i Hilo Softball had a successful home opener taking double walk-off victories over Cal Poly Humboldt in Tuesday's doubleheader at the Vulcan Softball Field.
Morgan Fontela was the final at-bat for both contests as the Vulcans came away with a 5-4 win on the junior's walk-off RBI single through the right side in Game 1 before forcing a walk-off wild pitch in the bottom of the eighth inning for a 7-6 victory.
Kanoe Piltz also provided both winning runs in the doubleheader sweep — combining to hit 3 for 6 with three walks and three runs scored.
Harley Acosta came up big in Game 1 with a game-tying RBI sacrifice squeeze bunt before putting together a 3-for-3 outing at the plate in Game 2.
GAME NOTES
- Game 1: Cal Poly Humboldt 4 - Hawai'i Hilo 5
- Hawai'i Hilo plated four runs through the final two innings of play, tying the score on a successful squeeze sacrifice bunt attempt by Acosta to score Lexie Tilton from third base — Tilton got on with a lead-off walk. After a base hit by Mariah Antoque through the left side, Fontela delivered the game-winning blow with the walk-off RBI single through the right side of the infield.
- Cal Poly Humboldt took an early lead on a two-run home run by Shelby Shanks in the opening frame, but Hawai'i Hilo's Tilton responded in the bottom of the first with a lead-off homer.
- Tehani Seto got the start in the pitching circle going 5.1 innings before Madison Rabe cleaned up the final 1.2 innings to be the winning pitcher on record.
- Breeann Leong recorded five assists and two putouts (1.000) at second base.
- Game 2: Cal Poly Humboldt 6 - Hawai'i Hilo 7 (8 inn.)
- The Vulcans gave themselves a five-run cushion through five innings, but the Lumberjacks managed to rally with two outs to score five runs in the top of the sixth on five hits.
- Cal Poly Humboldt placed runners at second and third in the top of the eighth, but Vulcans pitcher Madi Lee — who entered in the top of the seventh — kept the scoreboard clean by inducing a ground out followed by an inning-ending strikeout.
- With bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth and Fontela at the plate, the game ended with a walk-off wild pitch to score Piltz from third base.
- Lee was the winning pitcher on record, going 2.0 innings with no hits, no runs, no walks and two strikeouts.
- Tilton recorded six putouts (1.000) in left field.
- Program Record Book Updates
- Tilton moved up to No. 9 with 158 career hits — surpassing Mari Kawano (2015-2018) at 155.
- White moved to No. 7 with 68 career walks — surpassing Kiarra Lincoln (2018-2021) at 67.
- Chenoa Cainglit had one at-bat and drew a hit-by-pitch to bring her career total to 11 — moving past Leo Sing Chow (2003, 2005-2007) and Rebecca Lee (2013-2014) to No. 4.
- Hawai'i Hilo: 3-4 Overall (PacWest)
- Preseason Coaches Poll: No. 6
- Cal Poly Humboldt: 3-7 Overall (CCAA)
- Arcata, California
- California Collegiate Athletic Association
- Preseason Coaches Poll: No. T7
UP NEXT
- Saturday, Feb. 21 (NOON + 2:30 PM) vs Chaminade (Vulcan Softball Field)
- Friday, Feb. 27 (NOON + 2:30 PM) vs Jessup (Vulcan Softball Field)
- Saturday, Feb. 28 (NOON + 2:30 PM) vs Jessup (Vulcan Softball Field)
- Wednesday, March 4 (NOON + 2:30 PM) vs Dominican (Vulcan Softball Field)
- Thursday, March 5 (NOON + 2:30 PM) vs Dominican (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.
