HILO, Hawai'i – Hawai'i Pacific University closed the 2021 softball season with a 9-1 loss in six innings to Hawai'i Hilo on Friday afternoon at the Walter Victor Complex.
 
The Sharks (8-16, 8-16) took a brief 1-0 lead against the Vulcans (16-8, 16-8) before UHH came on strong with seven runs in the third and fourth innings to take control.
 
Sophomore shortstop Kanoe Tanigawa of Mililani, Hawai'i/Maryknoll was the offensive bright spot for the Sharks, going 3-for-3 with HPU's only RBI. Senior right fielder Ashley Iseri of Cerritos, Calif./Whitney recorded the Sharks only other hit in her final game.
 
Junior righthander Malia Torres of Danville, Calif./Monte Vista pitched three innings allowing four runs, just one earned, on four hits with five walks and two strikeouts. Senior lefthander Megan Wilson of Santa Clarita, Calif./West Ranch (2-9) was charged with the loss, going 2.1 innings allowing five runs on nine hits with a walk.
 
UH Hilo ace Leah Gonzales (7-1) picked up the complete game win, allowing one run on four hits with seven walks and three strikeouts in six innings.
 
HPU chalked up its lone run in the top of the second when senior centerfielder Cieana Curran of Ewa Beach, Hawai'i/Campbell walked to open the inning, stole second and was sacrificed to third. Tanigawa rapped a shart RBI single up the middle to give HPU the 1-0 lead.
 
UHH answered with a run in the second on a failed steal of second with a runner at third, who scored on the throw to tie the game at 1-1.
 
In the third, back-to-back HPU errors opened the gates for three unearned runs to make it 4-1.
 
But in the fourth, the Vulcans plated four runs upping the score to 8-1.
 
HPU held until the sixth when an RBI single ended the contest at 9-1.
 
The season ends with the loss for HPU, while the Vulcans will play in the PacWest Automatic Qualifier Pod Series next week.