COSTA MESA, California – Hawai'i Hilo Softball dropped a one-run affair before bouncing back for a 4-2 victory to split Friday's doubleheader in Pacific West Conference play at VU Softball Field.

Rayna White plated the Vulcans first two runs of Game 2 and finished 3 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored.

Madi Lee went 6.2 innings in relief, allowing two runs and five hits with three strikeouts to earn her first win of the season.

NOTES

• Game 1: Hawai'i Hilo 0 - Vanguard 1
  • Madison Rabe held Vanguard to four hits over six complete innings with three strikeouts and no walks.
  • Vulcans totaled five hits. Vanguard pitcher Mari Ipatzi went the distance with just two walks given and one strikeout, inducing 12 fly outs and eight ground outs for the shutout.
  • Hawai'i Hilo stranded seven total runners, leaving a pair of bases occupied in the second and seventh innings.
  • Vanguard managed to string together a pair of base hits to score the lone run of the game in the bottom of the fifth.
  • Lexie Tilton had five putouts in left field. Mariah Antoque collected two putouts and three assists at shortstop.
• Game 2: Hawai'i Hilo 4 - Vanguard 2
  • White started the game with a lead-off single and later scored on an RBI bases-loaded walk drawn by Mia Joaquin.
  • White followed up in the second inning with an RBI single to give the Vulcans their final lead at 2-1.
  • Breeann Leong and Tilton added RBI hits in the fifth to extend the lead to three runs.
  • Santos started and issued two walks in 0.1 innings before Lee came in and went 6.2 innings, allowing two runs on five hits.
  • Tilton hit 3 for 4 with a stolen base. Leong also had a stolen base and went 2 for 3 with an RBI and two runs scored.
  • Joaquin finished with five assists and one putout at third base.
  • Hawai'i Hilo left 12 total runners on base, including the bases loaded in the first, second and fifth innings.
• Tilton brought her career total to 96 RBI, moving up one spot to No. 7 in the program record book — surpassing Leo Sing Chow ('03, '05-'07).
• Hawai'i Hilo: 15-14 Overall (12-10 PacWest)
  • Preseason Coaches Poll: No. 6
  • Current Conference Standing: No. 5
• Vanguard: 11-20 Overall (5-9 PacWest)
  • Costa Mesa, California
  • Preseason Coaches Poll: No. 7
  • Current Conference Standing: No. 7

UP NEXT

• Saturday, March 21 (9 AM + 11 AM) at Vanguard (Costa Mesa, California)
• Sunday, April 5 at Josai University (Saitama, Japan)
• Sunday, April 5 at Nippon Sport Science University (Tokyo, Japan)
• Thursday, April 16 (NOON + 2:30 PM) vs Menlo (Vulcan Softball Field)
• Friday, April 17 (NOON + 2:30 PM) vs Menlo (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.