The UH-Hilo softball team opened its season with a split, beating Sonoma State 7-3 and falling to Central Washington 3-1, on Friday at the Desert Stinger Tournament in Las Vegas.
The UH-Hilo softball team opened its season with a split, beating Sonoma State 7-3 and falling to Central Washington 3-1, on Friday at the Desert Stinger Tournament in Las Vegas.
In the first game, Kiarra Lincoln and Markie Okamoto hit home runs and junior transfer Valerie Alvardo pitched 5 1/3 innings of three-run-ball for the win. Leah Gonzales struck out three in 1 2/3 innings of relief.
Lincoln and Rayla Jacobs-Kea each had two hits and two RBIs, and Okamoto had two hits and three RBIs.
Camille Rodriguez went 3 2/3 innings in the loss for the Seawolves, who were picked to finish fifth in the CCAA.
The competition got tougher in the second game against defending GNAC champion Central Washington and Lexi Strasser, a first-team all-conference pick as a freshman.
She fired a four-hitter in the 3-1 extra innings win. In eight innings, she allowed an unearned run, walked two and struck out four.
Lincoln went 1 for 3 with an RBI while Gonzales, Okamoto, and Maria Steadmon managed singles off Strasser.
Isabelle Mejia started and took a no-decision in three scoreless innings. Gonzales took the loss in the relief. She allowed three runs in 4 1/3 innings.
