The University of Hawaii at Hilo softball team swept a Pacific West Conference doubleheader against Cal Baptist on Saturday at the Vulcans’ field. The Vulcans won 6-2 and 7-2 over the Lancers.
In Game 1, junior right-hander Vanessa Salinas fired a three-hitter to record the win for UH-Hilo (16-9, 10-6 PacWest). She allowed two earned runs while striking out five and not walking a batter. One of the Lancers’ three hits was Marshean August’s solo homer in the sixth inning.
Jessica Avila started and went the distance for Cal Baptist (17-15, 8-6). She gave up six runs — three earned — on 10 hits while being tagged with the loss. She struck out three and walked one.
Freshman Brittany Huff led the Vulcans’ 10-hit attack with two hits and three runs batted in. Teammates Kristina Victa (RBI), Rebecca Lee (RBI) and Emily Greene (RBI) each added two hits.
In Game 2, sophomore southpaw Ashley Nelson pitched five solid innings, holding the Lancers to two runs while scattering seven hits. She picked up the win while Salinas hurled the final two innings.
The Vulcans broke a 1-1 deadlock with six runs in the fifth inning. Sophomores Colleen Aubrey and Greene had the biggest hits in the inning. Aubrey had a three-run double, and Greene hit a two-run homer.
Aubrey led UH-Hilo’s six-hit attack with three hits, and Greene had two, including her homer to left field.
Baseball
c GCU 1-1, UH-Hilo 0-0: Grand Canyon University plated a solo run in each game and rode outstanding pitching to sweep a PacWest baseball doubleheader from the Vulcans on Saturday at Wong Stadium.
In Game 1, starter Andrew Naderer (5 1/3 innings, six strikeouts) and relievers Cody Repenning and Mark Jarrett combined on a four-hit shutout to life the Antelopes to the 1-0 win. Naderer got the win while UH-Hilo starter Jordan Kurokawa (six innings, eight hits, one run) took the loss.
Designated hitter Garrett Jeffries went 3-for-3 and drove in the winning run to lead GCU (16-8, 8-1 PacWest). No teammate paired hits.
Tyler Nitahara had two hits to lead the Vulcans (5-20-1, 5-14-1), who left seven men on base against the visitors.
In Game 2, starter Coley Bruns (5 1/3 innings, three hits, sven strikeouts) got the win.
The Antelopes outdueled UH-Hilo starter Gavin Kinoshita (6 1/3 innings, two hits, one run, four strikeouts) and reliever Sheldon Shishido (2/3 inning, no hits). Kinoshita took the loss.
Grand Canyon scored in the third inning, using a walk, two hit batters, a fielder’s choice and an error to plate the unearned run.
Keenan Kaluau, Zach Hamasaki and Austin Cusack had the Vulcan hits. Seth Frethelm had both of the Antelope hits.