The University of Hawaii at Hilo softball team got so hot, coach Peejay Brun wasn’t sure it was ever going to cool down.
When the Vulcans finally did, they had a school-record 13-run second inning and were well on their way to the second of two TKO victories Thursday against BYU-Hawaii in Laie, Oahu.
“They just lit it up,” Brun said after 12-2 and 14-2 victories. “They were on fire.
“I was almost surprised (BYU-Hawaii) got out of the inning.”
The Vulcans (27-15, 16-9 Pacific West Conference) sent 17 batters to the plate in the inning and collected nine hits, including three doubles. Brittany Huff and Brandi Wilson each collected a double and single in the inning and Huff drove in three runs.
Danielle Wilson was the beneficiary of the big inning after Vanessa Salinas got the victory in the opener for UH-Hilo, which has won 15 of 17 and five in row. The last four have come against the Seasiders (7-23, 3-17).
With six games left in the regular season, every one is meaningful for the Vuls, who are in third place in the PacWest and 1 1/2 games ahead of Notre Dame de Namur.
With a doubleheader on tap Saturday at Hawaii Pacific, UH-Hilo’s hope is that the league garners three spots at the West Regional.
“I was a little worried about jumping on a plane early in the morning,” Brun said. “But this team is mentally tough.”
In the opener, Emily Greene belted her fifth home run of the season in fashioning a 4-for-4 effort. Like Greene, Melanie Morelos drove in three runs, giving her 11 RBIs in her past four games.
Morelos and Shelby Vickers each picked up two hits to back Salinas, (16-8), who struck out one and allowed five hits in the five-inning TKO.
Greene and Vickers added two more hits in the second game, and Mari Kawano finished 2 for 3.
Colleen Aubrey hit a two-run double in the second inning and finished with three RBIs.
In her five-inning TKO, Wilson (11-6) struck out one and yielded one earned run on four hits and four walks.
