UH-Hilo sweeps BYU-Hawaii

When the University of Hawaii at Hilo women’s softball team hits and pitches well, that’s usually good news for head coach Jaime Wallin.

On Monday at the Old Kona Airport Park softball field, the happy-go-lucky Wallin was all smiles as the Vulcans swept Brigham Young University-Hawaii 6-1 and 3-0 in a Pacific West Conference doubleheader.

The Vulcans improved to 11-1 overall and 6-0 in the PacWest. The Seasiders slipped to 7-6 and 4-5, respectively.

In the opener, senior Amber Waracka scattered eights hits while striking out 14 and walking one.

“Amber did a good job, but she’s still capable of a better performance,” Wallin said. “She gave up four extra-base hits and then buckled down. Against the better teams, she’s going to have to be sharper and use all of her pitches effectively. Overall today and with only one day’s rest, she kept them off-balance.”

Sueda, a second baseman out of Hilo High School, had two hits, including a two-run triple, and drove in three runs to spark UH-Hilo’s 10-hit attack. Hardy and freshman Emily Greene each added two hits, and Alconcel ripped a two-run single.

Gabrielle Hawkins started and went the distance for BYUH and took the loss. She struck out eight and walked two.

In Game 2, senior Jessica Pepin flirted with a no-hitter until giving up a double in the seventh inning as UH-Hilo prevailed 3-0. The Seasiders threatened in the seventh with no outs before Waracka took over for Pepin and shut out the visitors. Pepin picked up the win, striking out five and walking two. Tiffany Frampton went all the way for BYUH and was tagged with the loss. She struck out two and walked four.

Sueda led the seven-hit UH-Hilo attack with three singles and drove in two runs. For the day, the hard-hitting Sueda had five hits and five RBIs to help fuel the sweep.

The Vulcans next host Academy of Art University in a noon doubleheader Friday.