UH-Hilo softball extends win streak

FREMONT, California – Coming off a three-game win streak, the University of Hawaii at Hilo softball team traveled to northern California, where it notched a 5-4 Pacific West conference play victory against Holy Names University on Monday afternoon.

It was an action-packed first two innings of play. The Vulcans got on the scoreboard in the opening frame with Trinity Favela’s RBI-single up the middle. The second baseman finished with two hits, three RBI, one assist and one putout.

Holy Names responded with three runs in the bottom of the first, aided by two walks and an error. The Hawks added another run late in the game to make it a one-score affair, but Vulcans starting pitcher Malia Risdall stayed steady to earn her second consecutive victory.

The Vulcans plated four runs on four hits in the top of the second. Brandee Chinen led off with a base hit followed by an RBI triple by Klara Cejkova-Kolaci, an RBI hit by Rayna-Marie White and a two-RBI single by Favela.

Risdall went the distance with four walks and three earned runs given up — but notched four strikeouts, including the game-ending out in the bottom of the seventh.

Game 2 of Monday’s scheduled doubleheader was suspended in the fifth inning due to darkness, with the Vulcans leading 4-1 at the time of suspension. Play will be resumed at noon today.

UH-Hilo’s PacWest record improved to 4-7 (7-13 overall) while Holy Names moved to an 0-3 record (1-11 overall).

After today’s match, UH-Hilo will continue its northern California road trip with four games each against Dominican and Academy of Art before playing a five-game slate in Stanislaus State’s Tournament of Champions in Turlock through the first week of April.