ST. GEORGE, Utah -- February 8, 2019 -- The Chadron State College softball team fought hard for its third win of the season late Friday afternoon against Hawaii Pacific University, but the game slipped away in the bottom of the sixth after the Eagles suffered an earlier loss to the University of Hawaii-Hilo by a 19-0 margin in St. George, Utah.

In the earlier loss, CSC put seven different pitchers in the circle, with senior Dallas Magnusson performing the best while giving up only two unearned runs on three hits in two and two-thirds innings.

The Vulcans put the hammer down in the first and second innings, getting six and eight runs, respectively. Every starter on the team reached base safely in the game and also crossed home plate at some point. They put across four more runs in the third inning and one more in the fifth to invoke the run rule.

The Eagles' top three batters on the season were the only ones to put the ball in play from the batter's box. They were Haleigh Hoefs batting 2-for-2, Alyssa Geist at 2-for-3, and Bailey Marvel going 1-for-3.

In the later afternoon game, Chadron State jumped up in the top of the first when Hoefs singled home Geist, who reached on a fielder's choice. 

HPU tied things up quickly in the bottom of the inning, bunting successfully to start the inning and then sacrificing to put the leadoff runner on second. That runner stole third, and an error brought her home.

CSC then poured on six runs in the second. Marvel, Geist, and Angelica Maples all singled to load the bases for Kayla Michel, who put a ball over the center field wall for a grand slam. Geist's base hit produced one RBI when Lauren Renck crossed as a pinch runner for Leilani Niccum, who walked. Hoefs added a solo homer.

Eagle pitcher Gabby Russell went three more innings holding the Sharks scoreless, however the Hawaii Pacific comeback began in the fifth.

That's when the Sharks put down a bunt single with one out and homered their baserunner across to pull within 7-3.

In the ensuing sixth inning, Russell gave up a hit and a walk, and HPU's fifth batter went yard for a three-run shot to close to within one run. After a pitching change, the Sharks got three straight base hits on CSC reliever Cassidy Horn to add two more runs and go up 8-7 for the game's final score.

Hoefs, who finished the day 5-for-6 with two RBI, hit safely in the seventh, but the rest of the order couldn't put across the tying run.

Peyton Propp in the morning game, and Russell in the latter, took losses for the Eagles, who fall to 2-7 on the season. 

Chadron State faces one final opponent in St. George on Saturday. That is Western New Mexico, who the Eagles defeated 15-11 in Lubbock, Texas, the previous weekend. The Mustangs' record is 1-8 after picking up their first win Friday, 6-4, over Montana State-Billings.