AZUSA, California – Hawai'i Hilo Softball split Wednesday's doubleheader with Azusa Pacific, dropping the opener, 5-1, before rebounding for a 6-2 victory to claim the four-game over APU in Pacific West Conference play at the Cougar Softball Complex.
Janessa Santos tossed a complete game (fifth of the season) in the nightcap, striking out seven and allowing just three hits to improve to a 5-0 record — boasting an overall conference-best opposing batting average of just .181.
The Vulcans tallied 11 total hits (four doubles) and posted five runs on six hits in the top of the third inning.
Lexie Tilton had three total RBI on the day, smacking a two-RBI double in the victory after providing the Vulcans' lone run of Game 1 on a solo homer.
Hawai'i Hilo swept the Cougars in Tuesday's doubleheader with Wednesday's win clinching the four-game series.
NOTES
- Game 1: Hawai'i Hilo 1 - Azusa Pacific 5
- Mia Castillo got the start in the pitching circle against her former team, allowing three hits and three unearned runs in 3.2 innings. The bottom of the fourth started with a lead-off error followed by back-to-back outs. APU then rallied for three base hits to plate three runs.
- Tilton took a first-pitch offering over the wall to lead off the top of the sixth inning.
- Another Vulcans defensive error in the bottom of the sixth helped contribute to two more runs (one unearned) scored by APU.
- The Vulcans stranded eight runners and went 1 for 8 with runners on base.
- Breeann Leong recorded five putouts and two assists at second base but was tagged with one error.
- Game 2: Hawai'i Hilo 6 - Azusa Pacific 2
- Mia Joaquin gave Hawai'i Hilo an early lead with an RBI double in the second inning.
- The Vulcans broke the game open in the third with hits from Rayna White, Tilton (two-RBI double), Mariah Antoque (RBI double), Ava Monturio (RBI single), Joaquin, and Leong to help score five runs.
- Santos allowed no hits through the first four innings before APU scratched out three hits to score two runs in the fifth. The redshirt-sophomore matched a season-high seven strikeouts.
- Antoque collected four putouts and one assist at shortstop.
- Hawai'i Hilo: 11-8 Overall (8-4 PacWest)
- Preseason Coaches Poll: No. 6
- Current Conference Standing: No. 3
- Azusa Pacific: 13-13 Overall (6-6 PacWest)
- Azusa, California
- Preseason Coaches Poll: No. 3
- Current Conference Standing: No. 6
UP NEXT
- Friday, March 13 (9 AM + 11:30 AM) at Biola (La Mirada, California)
- Saturday, March 14 (9 AM + 11:30 AM) at Biola (La Mirada, California)
- Tuesday, March 17 (NOON + 2:30 PM) at Concordia (Irvine, California)
- Wednesday, March 18 (NOON + 2:30 PM) at Concordia (Irvine, California)
- Friday, March 20 (11 AM + 1 PM) at Vanguard (Costa Mesa, California)
- Saturday, March 21 (9 AM + 11 AM) at Vanguard (Costa Mesa, California)
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.
