Tribune-Herald Tribune-Herald ADVERTISING For the second consecutive Saturday, the University of Hawaii at Hilo softball team had to take refuge from the rain in West Hawaii. Along with picking up a pair of victories, coach Jaime Wallin says there are
Tribune-Herald
For the second consecutive Saturday, the University of Hawaii at Hilo softball team had to take refuge from the rain in West Hawaii.
Along with picking up a pair of victories, coach Jaime Wallin says there are plenty of silver linings in having to escape the Hilo clouds.
Amber Waracka pitched the Vulcans to a pair of victories at Old Kona Airport Park, 8-0 and 7-1, to complete a four-game sweep against Dominican.
A day after she threw a no-hitter at UHH Field, Jessica Pepin allowed a run early in the second game, but Waracka came on and pitched 5 2/3 innings of shutout relief as UHH (9-1, 4-0 Pacific West Conference) outscored the last-place Penguins (2-18, 0-7) by a combined 28-1 in the series.
“It the type of performances that is to be expected from us,” Wallin said. “At this point, the key thing for us is to be able to play games.”
Waracka (5-0) allowed only three hits on the day with 10 strikeouts. She started the opener and fired a one-hitter, and Emily Green provided the offense, going 3 for 3 with two extra-base hits and four RBIs.
With their home field ravaged by rain, the Vulcans hope to determine today whether Monday’s game against BYU-Hawaii will take place in Hilo or back in Kailua-Kona.
According to Wallin, if the Vulcans do have to endure another pair of two-plus hour bus rides around the Big Island, at least it will prepare the team for the riggers of the road and better competition. UHH is getting ready for the Tournament of Champions in late March in Turlock, Calif.
“There are some advantages of coming over to Kona,” Wallin said. “The bus rides are something we are going to have get to used to on mainland road trips. The field (in Kona) is hard whereas our field is soft, so that will get us ready for the kind of surfaces we’ll play on in Turlock. Plus, (the Kona field) has lights, and that’s something we’re going to have to get used to as well. There are absolutely some advantages of playing over here.”
Bryanna Hardy and Aisha Sueda each went 2 for 3 in Saturday’s opener, and Sueda was 2 for 4 as the Vuls scored six runs in the first inning of Game 2. Sueda finished with an RBI in each game. UHH made only one error in the series.
“I’m excited where we are at right now,” Wallin said. “But the question is where do we go from here? Do we get complacent or do we keep pushing.”
