BRISBANE, California – The University of Hawai’i at Hilo softball team wrapped the Pacific West Conference play segment of its northern California trip with a doubleheader split against Academy of Art, 1-5 and 5-3, Monday afternoon at Mission Blue Field.
With just eight PacWest games remaining for the Vulcans — against the two Hawai’i schools — they currently sit at No. 7 in the conference standings. UH-Hilo is five games back from the No. 4 spot where Hawai‘i Pacific currently sits at 12-11. Behind in order is Azusa Pacific (9-9) and Chaminade (9-11).
The top four schools will qualify for the PacWest Championships postseason tournament, which is set for May 3–5 at Biola University.
Academy of Art started the series with a couple bangs on a lead-off double by Bethany Mitchell followed by a triple from Haley Randall to make it a quick 1-0 score.
The Urban Knights added another run in the inning on a fielder’s choice double play — No. 18 of the season for the Vulcans and good for a tie at second-most in Division II.
The Vulcans plated a run in the second inning on a fielding error — for what would’ve been the third out to make it a 2-1 score. Academy of Art threatened to extend its lead in the third inning with bases loaded, but UH-Hilo pitcher Malia Risdall got out of the jam with no damage done to stay within striking distance.
A three-run bottom sixth frame helped the Urban Knights jump ahead to make the uphill climb too much to overcome for the Vulcans.
Lexie Tilton drove in the Vulcans opening and closing runs of the second game, first with an RBI single in the third inning and later on another RBI base hit in the seventh.
The freshman also set up another score in the fifth inning with a double before coming around on an RBI single from Chloe Domingo — her 99th career hit.
Academy of Art threatened in the final frame of the game with back-to-back-to-back singles at the start of the inning and brought in a runner to make it just a three-run score, but Vulcans pitcher Alexis Lacy induced three flyouts in order to end the game and secure the victory.
UH-Hilo moved to 7-11 in PacWest play (10-17 overall) while Academy of Art moved to a 3-11 record (6-24 overall).
Tuesday’s scheduled doubleheader between UH-Hilo and Academy of Art was postponed Monday night due to inclement weather.
The Vulcans will wrap up their northern California visit with a five-game slate in Stanislaus State’s Tournament of Champions, presented by the City of Turlock this weekend.