The pattern was as clear as it was uncomfortable for the Hawaii-Hilo softball team.
The pattern was as clear as it was uncomfortable for the Hawaii-Hilo softball team.
In each of the last two doubleheaders at home against the best teams in the Pacific West Conference, the Vulcans had been run off their own field in one game, and then played a tight, one-run game that they lost.
It looked as though it might happen again Sunday when UHH fell to nationally ranked Dixie State 8-0, and then found themselves in a scoreless pitcher’s duel going into the bottom of the seventh of the second game before senior Cristina Menjivar came off the bench — the first time last year’s all-conference player hadn’t started this season — and delivered a single to left that scored Mari Kawano, running for Danielle Pulido, for a 1-0 victory.
It’s been a while since the Vulcans (8-10, 2-6 PWC) had smiles this big after a game, but against the 12th-ranked Trailblazers (19-5, 5-2 PWC), it was a cause for optimism.
“It’s a turning point in the season,” said Menjivar, who spent most of the second game behind the dugout hitting balls off a tee into a net. “People get in slumps, teams get in slumps and it’s been a struggle for us, but this was just what we needed, a well-played game and a win against a good team.”
Pulido opened the winning opportunity with a solid single against Alexandria Melendez, who had allowed just three hits at that point. Winning pitcher Cyanne Fernandez (1-2) went the distance, allowing only three base hits, and her sacrifice bunt moved Pulido into scoring position.
“They had been pitching me inside but as the game went along they migrated more to the outside,” Pulido said. “I was sort of looking for something outside and I just threw my hands at it and got the bat on the ball.”
It wasn’t just a good team they beat, but a nemesis as well. For the seniors, it was the first time they had tasted victory against Dixie State in their UHH careers.
“Somebody said it has been seven years since we beat them,” Menjivar said. “I don’t know, but I’m glad we finally got one.”
Falling in line, uncomfortably, with the school’s five other team sports — both soccer teams, both basketball teams, the baseball team — that all either finished or are in the middle of seasons with losing records, the softball team was headed in that same direction until this game.
“We’re hoping this can be a turning point,” UHH coach Callen Perreira said. “We haven’t been playing consistently well, but this might be a turning point, let’s hope so.
“They TKO’d us in the first game,” he said, “but the girls came out with pride and determination, they were ready to play.”
As much as Menjivar’s clutch hit helped, so did two diving catches in left field by Kristen Ishii that saved three runs earlier in the game. On each play, she stretched out fully and just grabbed enough of the ball to hold on.
“If she doesn’t catch either one of those, the ball might have rolled all the way to the fence,” Perreira said. “It would have been a different story.”
Trailblazers 8, Vulcans 0
It was short and not so sweet in the first game when DSU pitcher Brooklyn Beardshear handcuffed UHH on just three hits, with only two strikeouts and one base on balls, boosting her record to 9-1.
They got all the runs they needed in the first inning when starter Danielle Wilson walked the leadoff batter, then a throwing error on a bunt left two runners on base. An infield out scored one run and a well-placed bunt by Jessica Gonzalez scored the second run when a play couldn’t be made.
Gonzalez homered in the fourth, her league-leading 9th home run of the season, then two singles, a hit batter and a sacrifice fly added two more.
Down 8-0 in the fifth, the Vulcans had a chance to extend the game with the bases loaded on singles by Ishii and Jordan Millwood around a walk to Amanda Lara, but Beardshear got Brinell Kaleikini to pop up for the final out and there mercy rule ended the game.
“Hard to score when you can’t get on base,” said Perreira. “We just aren’t playing well right now, the bats are quiet, we’re not putting the ball into play like we need to.”
Wilson (4-3) took the loss for the Vulcans after going 3 1/3 innings, allowing four hits and our earned runs while striking out four and walking only one. Leah Gonzales pitched the last 1 2/3 and was charged with three earned runs while surrendering four hits.
Notes: The Vulcans host another top-of-the-conference squad Saturday when Cal Baptist comes in for a doubleheader… . Three players were out with injuries Sunday for the Vulcans, including shortstop Mari Kawano (hand), who started all 13 previous games in which she was cleared to play and led the team in batting average (.367) and hits (18), Kacie Freudenberger (elbow) and Toshonnie Baker (achilles tendon). … The opening game marked the third time UHH has been shut out this season, and it was the second game in a row the Vulcans failed to score. … Following this series, the Vulcans have only three more home dates this season.