SAN RAFAEL, Calif. — The UH-Hilo softball team’s postseason came to an end this week — as the Vulcans fell in the opening round of the Pacific West Conference Championship on Wednesday, then won a redemption match before falling again on Thursday at Dominican.
UH-Hilo closed out at 26-17 overall and 18-10 in PacWest play.
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GAME 1: AZUSA 4 – HILO 2
UH-Hilo batters were limited to just four hits while striking out nine times against APU pitcher Katie Korstrom, who was also responsible for driving in two of the Cougars’ runs with a base hit up the middle in the first inning.
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GAME 2: HILO 8 – BIOLA 5
The Vulcans prevailed through extra innings, rallying for three runs in the top 11th to stay in the tourney and down Biola on Thursday.
Macias had a great day at the plate, going five-for-five with three RBIs — as did Tilton, who went three-for-four and homered with one RBI.
Sales earned the win in the circle after closing out the final three innings — allowing no hits and just two walks.
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GAME 3: AZUSA 4 – HILO 2
Mere hours after their 11-inning victory, the Vulcans were back in action against Azusa — and fell 4-2 once again in the seven-inning affair.
Cainglit’s solo homer spurred a two-run effort in the top fifth, followed by Macias’s RBI single.
However, UHH could not plate the one more run needed to tie the game, and Azusa scored one more in the bottom fifth to pull back out of striking distance.