The week in review: UH-Hilo athletics

WOMEN’S GOLF

PALM DESERT, Calif. — Tia Kuali‘i led the UH-Hilo women’s golf team to a No. 2 overall finish, placing second as an individual last week at the Augustana Spring Fling at the Desert Willow Golf Resort.

The Waiakea High alumnus and fifth-year senior carded 77 and 76 (+9, 153) to closely trail No. 1 Molly Stevens (+4, 77, 71, 148) of Augustana.

Two other Vulcans placed among the top ten, both of whom are also WHS alumni — sophomores Elle Otani (+11, 80, 75, 115), who tied for No. 4, and Kierstin Saludares (+14, 82, 76,158), who tied for No. 10.

UH-Hilo (+55, 323, 308, 631) trailed No. 1 Augustana (+51, 329, 298, 627) by just four strokes.

The Vulcans were atop the leaderboard at the end of the first round, carding 323 as Augustana sat at No. 6. Dominican and Lubbock Christian were tied for No. 2 at 326.

Five of Augustana’s golfers shot 77 or better in round two to post a comeback shoot up the leaderboard.

The Vulcans’ Trinity Ledgerwood (+21, 84, 81, 165) tied for No. 34 and Kailey Oki (+31, 86, 89, 175) placed No. 48.

UH-Hilo will be back in action in early April for back-to-back invitationals in Arizona — starting with the WT Desert Invitational in Tucson, then on to the RJGA Palm Valley Classic in Goodyear.

Less than two weeks later, the Pacific West Conference Championship will be held April 15-17 at Mauna Lani Golf Course in Waimea.

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SOFTBALL

UH-Hilo’s softball team went 3-1 over Biola in a four-game series, playing doubleheaders Pacific West Conference action on Monday and Tuesday.

The Vulcans conjured their magic once again to charge back for a late-game series-opening victory over Biola, 6-4, in 10 innings Monday afternoon.

The Vulcans subsequently fell, 3-1, in the nightcap to split the first doubleheader of the series.

Game 1 was stymied by three lightning delays occurring in the top of the third, bottom of the fourth and bottom of the seventh innings.

The opening-series victory broke a six-game skid — in which UHH lost four games by just a single run.

Nearing their final outs in game one, the Vulcans got things going in the top of the sixth as Rayna White singled for her second hit of the day to account for the team’s only hits at the time. Victoria Macias followed up with a two-run slam over the left-field fence to cut the score to just one run.

Now down to their final outs an inning later, Maya Lee Saneishi splashed a two-out triple to deep center field to keep the Vulcans alive. Kiani Nakamura clutched up to bring in the game-tying run on a two-strike single to left field.

Another 30-minute lightning delay added much anticipation for the final at-bat of regulation as Biola pitcher Raylene Roybal drew a one-out walk to put the game-winning runner on. But on the ensuing at-bat, Makena Nera snagged a hard-hit line drive at the hot corner before firing across the diamond to double up Roybal for an inning-ending double play.

With international tiebreaker rules at the start of the top of the 10th inning (a runner placed at second base), Jayda Favela reached on a misplayed sacrifice bunt before moving over on a stolen base, priming White for a two-RBI slam to give the Vulcans the lead. Dyoni Garcia later added an insurance run with a deep sacrifice fly out to score White.

In the second game, the Vulcans got on the scoreboard early with Jayda Favela and Lexie Tilton stringing together base hits for a 1-0 advantage.

Biola drew a lead-off walk and managed a base hit to put two runners on for Roybal to ding a two-RBI double to right-center field, but the Vulcans minimized damage by gunning her out at third base trying to stretch it to a triple.

UH-Hilo stranded a pair of runners in each of the second, fourth, fifth and seventh innings.

Chasing two runs entering the final inning, the Vulcans got base runners on with a White walk and a Macias single, but the Eagles managed to close out the final two outs of the inning to even the series score.

The Vulcans swept the Eagles on Tuesday, winning 4-2 in the first game and 2-1 in the second.

UH-Hilo started off the first game with three runs in the top of the first inning — as Tilton singled to bat in Favela, Mia Joaquin got hit by a pitch to walk Macias home and Saneishi singled to bat in Tilton.

After Biola plated two runs in the bottom third, the Vulcans grew their lead again in the top sixth as Tilton singled to bat in Favela. Madison Rabe earned the win on the mound, surrendering two earned runs on five hits in 4.1 innings while striking out four.

In the second game, the Vulcans entered the sixth inning down 1-0. With the bases loaded, Chenoa Cainglit was hit by a pitch — sending Tilton across the plate. After Biola switched out their pitcher, Saneishi hit a sacrifice fly to bat in Kanoe Plitz. Megan Yorba earned the win on the mound, allowing three hits and no earned runs.

Starting Thursday, the Vulcans will play against six different Califonia state schools at an invitational tournament in Turlock, Calif.