HILO — Chloe Sales tossed 12.0 scoreless innings to lead Hawai’i Hilo Softball to a 2-1 series victory over Vanguard in Pacific West Conference play this weekend at the Vulcan Softball Field. Vulcans fell, 5-4, in extra innings to open the three-game matchup before coming back to take 3-0 and 9-0 victories.
The senior lefty posted pitching lines of 7.0 innings (no hits, no runs, two strikeouts, no walks) and 5.0 innings (no runs, two hits) for back-to-back shutout complete-game victories. In the 3-0 Game 2 win, Sales induced 17 groundouts and helped herself with five defensive assists.
The 2024 All-PacWest Third Teamer dropped her conference (PacWest play only) ERA to 2.19 and now shares the lead with four total shutouts.
Hawai’i Hilo moved to 15-12 in the PacWest (21-19 overall) as Vanguard moved to a 7-15 conference record (12-26 overall). Vulcans remain at No. 6 in the current conference standings with Vanguard at No. 7.
Up next: 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. Friday vs. Biola (Hilo/Vulcan Softball Field)
Game 1:
VANGUARD 5, HAWAI’I HILO 4 (9 INNINGS)
After four scoreless innings, the Lions managed to plate a pair of runs highlighted by an RBI triple from Kamryn Walker. Vanguard added another run in the top of the seventh to take a 3-0 lead.
Seemingly down to their final outs in regulation, the Vulcans rallied with four hits to tie the game. Victoria Macias batted in a run and Lexie Tilton added two more with a triple of her own but was left stranded 90 feet away to enter extra innings.
VU’s Mia Hernandez managed a two-RBI double in the top of the ninth.
Vulcans looked ready to rally again with the top of the lineup getting on with back-to-back singles as Macias drove in another run with a sacrifice fly. However, that would be all as the Lions sealed up the 5-4 extra-inning win.
Jayda Favela and Rayna White each totaled three hits in the No. 1 and No. 2 batting spots, respectively — combining for three RBI.
Game 2:
HAWAI’I HILO 3, VANGUARD 0
Sales made her 12th start of the season and faced just two additional batters over the minimum of 21 — both getting on base with a hit-by-pitch.
Favela again totaled three hits, bringing in the Vulcans second run with an RBI single.
Game 3:
HAWAI’I HILO 4, VANGUARD 0
Sales again got the start and went three batters over the minimum (a walk and two hits) of 15 in the truncated five-inning contest due to the eight-run mercy rule limit.
Vulcans exploded for four and five runs, respectively, in the third and fourth innings.
Other notes
Favela brought her career hits total to 196, moving to No. 3 all-time in program history — surpassing Emily Greene’s (‘12-‘15) mark of 193. The senior is also tied at No. 3 with Bailey Gaspar (‘16-‘18) at 119 career runs scored.
Favela’s season mark of 66 hits is currently tied at No. 3 in Division II behind Delaney Garden’s (Lewis University) total of 70 and Emily Blackwell’s (North Greenville) tally of 67.
