College softball: Vulcans split twinbill with Western Washington to open season

Subscribe Now Choose a package that suits your preferences.
Start Free Account Get access to 7 premium stories every month for FREE!
Already a Subscriber? Current print subscriber? Activate your complimentary Digital account.

Emily Greene belted a double and drove in two runs and Hannah Peterson pitched seven innings to give the University of Hawaii at Hilo softball team a 9-4 win over Western Washington University in the second game of a doubleheader on Sunday.

The twinbill marked the collegiate season opener for the Vulcans, who dropped the first game 6-2 at the Sand Island Field in Honolulu.

Peterson, a sophomore right-hander from Alto Loma, Calif., scattered 12 hits and allowed four runs while picking up the win. WWU starter Aspen Ison took the loss. She gave up nine runs in 2 1/3 innings before being replaced by reliever Shayna Adelstein.

The Vulcans (1-1) scored five runs in the first and four in the third to go up 9-0. WWU (3-1) rallied for three runs in the bottom of the third inning and added a solo run in the fourth. However, Peterson pitched shutout softball the rest of the way.

Senior leadoff hitter Kristina Victa, senior shortstop Rebecca Lee and sophomore Brandi Wilson each had two hits and a run batted in to lead the 11-hit UH-Hilo attack. Freshman Jillian Martinez added a double and an RBI for the Vulcans.

In the opener, WWU struck for eight hits and six runs off Vulcans starter Ashley Nelson, who went three innings and took the loss.

WWU starter Alyse Harris pitched four innings, allowing three hits and no runs, and earned the win.

Autumn Isaacson led WWU with three hits and Kaleigh Keating and Emma Blauser each had two. Blauser and Meghan Carrillo each had two RBIs.

The Vulcans, under coach Jaime Wallin, now travel to Las Vegas and play Montana State-Billings in a twinbill Wednesday. They also play in the Desert Stinger tournament, slated Friday through Sunday, in Las Vegas.

Game 1

WWU 015 000 0 — 6 11 2

UH-Hilo 100 010 0 — 2 7 0

Game 2

UH-Hilo 504 000 0 — 9 11 1

WWU 003 100 0 — 4 12 2