HILO, Hawai'i – Despite strong offensive performances throughout the day, Cal Poly Humboldt softball came up just short in both ends of a rain-impacted doubleheader at Vulcan Field on Tuesday. Hawai'i Hilo walked off the Lumberjacks twice, including an extra-inning finish in game two, to claim 5-4 and 7-6 victories.

Both contests featured lengthy rain delays and momentum swings before the Vulcans delivered late-game heroics.

GAME ONE: Hawai'i Hilo 5, Cal Poly Humboldt 4

The Lumberjacks (4-5) struck first in the opener behind a big swing from Shelby Shanks. In the top of the first, Shanks launched a two-run home run, her third of the year, to right field, scoring Alyssa Ramirez to give Humboldt an early 2-0 advantage.

Hawai'i Hilo answered with a solo homer from Tilton in the bottom half, but Humboldt regained control in the sixth. After Olivia Hurtado scored earlier in the inning, Bella Garcia worked a bases-loaded walk to push the lead to 3-1. Matea Muraoka followed with a sacrifice fly to center, bringing home Shelbie Van Slyke and extending the lead to 4-1.

Shanks and Garcia led the offensive effort in game one. Shanks finished 2-for-2 with two walks and two RBI, while Garcia went a perfect 2-for-2 with an RBI and a walk. Ramirez added a strong day at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a double and a triple while scoring once.

The Vulcans chipped away in the bottom of the sixth with two runs to make it 4-3, then capitalized in the seventh. An RBI fielder's choice tied the game before Fontela delivered the walk-off single through the right side to secure the 5-4 win.

Lily Fournier (1-4) took the loss, allowing three earned runs over 5.1 innings. Ariana Bottel tossed the final 1.1 innings in relief.

GAME TWO: Hawai'i Hilo 7, Cal Poly Humboldt 6 (8 innings)

In a back-and-forth nightcap that was delayed by heavy rain, the Vulcans (3-4) again had the final answer, scoring on a wild pitch in the bottom of the eighth to complete the sweep.

Humboldt (3-7) opened the scoring in the first inning when Marisol Gomez singled to left field, driving in Katlyn Gifford for a 1-0 lead.

Hawai'i Hilo capitalized on a series of defensive miscues to build a 6-1 advantage through four innings, with three of the six runs unearned.

The Lumberjacks responded with a five-run sixth inning to tie the game. Gifford started the rally with an RBI single to right, scoring Alyssa Ramirez. Marissa Brody then delivered the biggest hit of the inning, ripping a two-run double to right field to plate Gifford and Hailee Moore. Bella Garcia followed with an RBI single, and Muraoka capped the surge with an RBI single of her own to even the score at 6-6.

Brody paced the Humboldt offense in game two, going 3-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI. Ramirez added a 2-for-5 effort with a stolen base and a run scored. Gifford scored twice and drove in one, while Muraoka recorded two hits and an RBI. Garcia and Gomez each contributed key RBI singles during the sixth-inning rally.

In the circle, Siona Halwani allowed three earned runs over three innings, while Mason Hatton (1-2) was strong in relief, surrendering just one hit and no earned runs while striking out five over 4.1 innings. However, a wild pitch in the eighth allowed the winning run to cross, sealing the 7-6 decision for the Vulcans.

Up Next

Cal Poly Humboldt will head to the island of Oahu for a pair of doubleheaders set for Friday against Hawai'i Pacific and Saturday against Chaminade. Both days of doubleheaders will be played at Sand Island Softball Field. 

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