Chaminade is not the PacWest pushover the UH-Hilo softball team remembers, so the Vulcans had to work extra hard to eke out a victory.
From 2015 to ’19, the Silverswords have finished near the bottom of the standings and have a 27-100 record during that span. It was surprising that Chaminade swept Hawaii Pacific two weeks ago in a doubleheader.
The Vulcans finished above them in the standings every year and entered Saturday’s doubleheader at Kealakehe High with a 31-5 record or 86% winning percentage.
The Vulcans needed 10 innings to beat the Silverswords 2-1 in Game 1. In Game 2, UHH got its bats started early, scored four runs in the first inning, and freshman Sara Bhatt pitched five shutout innings in a 7-0 in a contest that was called after five innings because of darkness. Bhatt (2-0) got the win in both games.
In the 10th inning, a runner is placed on second base. Markie Okamoto singled to left field to score Vevesi Liilii for the game-winner.
Bhatt pitched one scoreless inning to earn the win. The freshman from Murrieta, Calif., walked one and whiffed two in her collegiate debut.
“She showed she could battle and get key outs,” coach Callen Perreira said after his team improved to 3-0.
Valerie Avarado pitched nine innings of one-run ball in a no-decision. She allowed seven hits, walked six and whiffed two. Her run was unearned.
Madelyn Stockslager went nine innings and allowed two runs, one unearned, in the loss. She surrendered 11 hits, three walks and struck out four.
“Credit their pitcher,” Perreira said. “She pitched very well and we need to make adjustments against her.”
Liilii, Okamoto, Darian Obara, and Chloe Domingo had two hits each for the Vulcans, who stranded 11 on base.
Keolanui Takemura and Malia Moisa had two hits each to lead the Silverswords, who left 16 on base.
In the seventh, Chaminade loaded the bases with two out, but Alvarado got a groundout to end the threat.
The Vulcans loaded the bases in the eighth with two out, but Stockslager also got a groundout to extinguish that rally.
In the 10th, Bhatt replaced Alvardo and quickly found herself in trouble. With a runner on second, she hit a batter and walked another before recording an inning-ending strikeout.
In the second game, Obara and Okamoto walked, and Skylar Thomas had an RBI single, and Domingo followed with an RBI single.
After Taisha Bratton walked, Kamaile Labasan had a two-run single to right field for a 4-0 lead.
UHH added another run in the third when Kiarra Lincoln singled, stole second and scored on an infield throwing error for a 5-0 cushion.
The series concludes Sunday with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. at Kealakehe.
Volleyball
Developmental or not, that was quite a way to start the season.
Bria Beale slammed 17 kills Saturday and Alexandria Parisian pounded 15 as UH-Hilo’s volleyball team defeated Chaminade in five sets, 25-18, 29-27, 19-25, 25-27, 15-8 in Honolulu
Ashton Jessee added 12 kills for the Vulcans, who beat Hawaii Pacific in four sets later in day, with Beale delivering 18 kills, 20 digs and three aces. Freshman outside hitter Samara Cruz had 15 kills
Tennis
The No. 18 Fresno State women’s team swept No. 25 UHH 4-0 in Fresno, Calif,, winning all the matches in straight sets.
The Sunbirds (3-6) lost all of their matches to Division I foes. The Vulcans (4-3) next head to Oahu in early April then prepare for the PacWest championships in Arizona, April 21-23.
Sandra Dafinescu, Carolina Alfonsin, Hikari Osaki, Camelle Joynder, Hannah Highsmith, and Casydee DeMattos all lost in singles.
Alfonsin/Highsmith, Osaki/DaFincescu, and DeMattos/Chloe Teramoto all lost in doubles.
Golf
The women’s golf team travels to Mau for the 8th annual Anuenue Spring Break Clasic, which runs Monday-Wednesday at the Royal Kaanapali Golf Course, hosted by UH-Manoa.
The Vulcans have played in just one tournament about a month ago at the Pearl Collegiate Classic on Oahu.
Kaelyn Uchida was UHH’s top golfer with a two-round score of 84-85.