Five game days into the season and UH-Hilo’s women’s softball team has yet to get one right all the way around. Another split was on tap for the Vulcans on Friday at the Cactus Classic in Tucson, Ariz.
UHH finished with a 4-0 loss to St. Mary’s University of Texas in which details were scarce. To begin the day, the Vulcans rallied to beat Southern Nazarene 4-3, and the most important detail was easy to discern: Kamalei Labasan drilled a two-run double in the bottom of the seventh, capping a topsy-turvy inning.
The Storm (5-3) took their second lead of the game in the top of the seventh when two hits and a error placed the Vuls in a 3-2 hole, putting starting pitcher Valerie Alvarado in danger of suffering about tough defeat. However, UHH had some luck go its way when Mae Kaleikini reached on error, and, after a sacrifice bunt, Vevesi Liilii was hit by a pitch. That set the stage for Labasan, a junior transfer from Mililani, Oahu, to play hero.
Alvarado (2-2) gave up nine hits but allowed just two earned runs in a complete game, walking one with three strikeouts.
UHH (3-6) trailed 2-0 before tying the game in the fourth. Megan Johnson led off with a double, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on Kiarra Lincoln’s single. Kimberly Olivas brought Lincoln home with a double.
Olivas, Kaleikini and Labasan had two hits each for UHH, which finished with 10.
The loss to St. Mary’s – a box score wasn’t available as of the Tribune-Herald’s press time – means the Vuls will have to win their remaining three games this weekend to return home with a .500 record.