Vulcan Softball Stays at Eighth in Region Rankings

The University of Hawai’i at Hilo softball team is facing a must-sweep scenario Saturday in its regular season finale against Hawai’i Pacific University.

UH-Hilo remains in the eighth position in the NCAA Division II West Region rankings, which were released Wednesday. The top eight teams in each of the eight regions throughout the country advance to the NCAA regionals with an opportunity to win a national championship.

In order to give itself a shot at postseason play, UH-Hilo will likely need to sweep HPU Saturday at home. Both teams split a PacWest doubleheader earlier this month in Kaneohe.

Even with a twinbill sweep on Saturday, UH-Hilo may still need a little bit of help to hang in the top eight. Cal State East Bay, ranked ninth, has a series next week against San Francisco State. The tenth place team, Western Washington, also hits the diamond next week to participate in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference tournament in Yakima, Wash.

With a pair of wins last Saturday against Chaminade, UH-Hilo holds a 30-16 overall record. Saturday’s doubleheader gets underway at 1 p.m.

NCAA Division II West Region Rankings (as of April 22)

1. Dixie State (38-6)

2. Cal State Monterey Bay (41-9)

3. California Baptist (37-9)

4. Humboldt State (38-12)

5. Sonoma State (35-16)

6. Saint Martin’s (28-13)

7. Chico State (22-18)

8. Hawai’i-Hilo (30-16)

9. Cal State East Bay (25-22)

10. Western Washington (24-16)