HILO, Hawaii – The first inning of both games on Friday saw Academy of Art softball score to claim an early advantage, but rallies in multiple innings thereafter pushed UH Hilo back in front to win each of the two Pacific West Conference contests, 6-1 and 3-1, through multiple rain delays out at Vulcan Softball Field.

GAME 1 – HILO 6, ART U 1
The Knights rallied early with senior outfielder Cailee Grayhorse-Pupecki and sophomore utility Marissa "Roo" Menard both reaching base to set up sophomore Audrey Allen's run-scoring single in the opening inning. However, UH Hilo countered in its half of the first with an unearned run on an error then took a 2-1 lead on a solo homer in the third.

Rain began to come down harder and caused a 20-minute delay in the fifth frame, but after play resumed and Academy of Art could not deliver senior infielder Katie Humphreys following her double in the sixth, the Vulcans plated four runs in the inning's home half to take the eventual 6-1 win.

GAME 2 – HILO 3, ARTU 1
On just the second pitch of the day's finale, Grayhorse-Pupecki launched a solo homer beyond the right field fence to quickly put the Knights ahead. Rain returned in the second inning, but while playing through it, the game shifted in the home team's favor on a two-run homer that put the Vulcans in front 2-1.

A 40-minute weather delay broke up the fourth inning before UH Hilo scratched across another run on a single and two walks then the afternoon's third rain delay came in the fifth frame. Sophomore infielder/catcher Olivia Glover delivered a pinch hit single to bring the potential tying run to the plate in the seventh, but the Vulcans held on for the 3-1 victory.

The Knights move to 7-22 overall and 3-13 in conference play after Humphreys and senior infielder Elle Edeker each went 2-for-3 in the opening contest while Grayhorse-Pupecki ended 1-for-3 with a run scored in each game on top of the homer in the day's finale.

Now 16-14 on the year and 10-10 versus PacWest opponents, the Vulcans were paced by Victoria Macias' 3-for-7 day that included four runs batted in as well as complete games from Chloe Sales (2-5), who allowed one run on six hits and two walks plus three strikeouts, and Madison Rabe (7-2), who also surrendered one run on five hits and two walks plus two strikeouts.

Academy of Art and UH Hilo will return to Vulcan Softball Field tomorrow for another noon HT (3 p.m. PT) twin bill to finish the PacWest series.