The UH-Hilo softball team split a doubleheader at the Dixie State Courtyard Classic Thursday at St. George, Utah, beating Central Washington 9-1 and losing to host Dixie State 5-4 in nine innings.
Against Central Washington, Kirra Lincoln, Kim Olivas, and Markie Okamoto each batted 2 for 3 and scored at least a run apiece to lead the Vulcans in the 9-1 win.
Brinell Kalekini hit a three-run homer and Okamoto added two RBIs.
Valerie Alvardo went the five-inning distance for the TKO win. She allowed a run on three hits and three walks and struck out four.
Against Dixie State, the Vuls led 4-0 heading into the sixth only to have the Trailblazers rally for four runs in the bottom of the inning and score in the ninth to win it. Dixie State used the international tiebreaker and had a sacrifice fly off loser Billie Derleth, who went 2 2/3 innings and gave up one unearned run.
UHH starter Leah Gonzales went 5 2/3 innings and allowed four runs on six hits ad five walks.
Lincoln batted 3 for 5, and Okamoto went 2 for 4 with an RBI to lead the Vuls (1-1).
Destiny Diaz hit a grand slam off of Gonzales in the sixth.