Posted permission, article and pictures, courtesy ofHawaii Pacific University
HILO, Hawai’i – Hawai’i Pacific University got a 10th inning home run in one game and a four-run inning in the other on the way to a PacWest Conference doubleheader sweep end the season in beating Big Island rival Hawai’i Hilo 5-3 (10) and 5-2 (6) on Friday afternoon at the new UH Hilo Softball Field.
The Sharks (24-26, 17-15) battled through rain delays and extra innings in the first game with the Vulcans (16-19, 12-14), then saw its second game end in six innings due to a travel curfew.
The Sharks began game one with a single run in the second inning on a base hit to center from freshman Neva Poulin of Corona, Calif./Norco. She advanced on a sacrifice bunt and scored on an RBI double by freshman Tiari Hernandez of Waipahu, Hawai’i/Pearl City.
Hernandez struck again but big in the fourth inning. Hoku Ching reached on a walk setting up a two run homer over the center field fence for Hernandez’s second of the season bringing it to 3-0.
After a second rain delay of the contest, the Vulcans gained a little momentum of their own scoring one run a piece in the fifth, sixth, and seventh frames to tie it at three just in the nick of time.
Going two extra frames without an advantage to either side, the international rule came into effect with an HPU runner placed on second to start the inning. It didn’t matter because this time Noel “Tita” Saunders of Pearl City, Hawai’i/Pearl City stepped up to rip her first homer of the season to right center field giving an extra insurance run for the Sharks’ eventual 5-3 victory.
HPU senior Malia Torres of Danville, Calif./Monte vista threw 145 pitches in all 10 innings allowing three runs (two earned) on 10 hits with two walks in rolling up her 24th complete game of the year. She also grabbed five strikeouts in taking the win bringing her to 12-12 on the year.
UH Hilo’s Alexis Lacy went three and one thirds inning allowing three earned runs on four hits with a walk. Sara Bhatt game in for six frames and gave up two runs (one earned) on four hits, but takes the loss moving to 8-4. Tehani Sato finished the game with two thirds of an innings allowing a hit.
In game two it was Hilo that struck first in the opening frame on a hit with a stolen base and sac bunt.
There were three scoreless innings before the Sharks came out for a hit parade. A single by junior Savannah Salyer-Kovacs of Camarillo, Calif./Camarillo was recorded before a 25-minute rain delay, but the Sharks stayed hot coming out for three more singles, and two RBI walks for a 4-1 lead after five.
The Vulcans added another run in the bottom of the fifth on a sacrifice fly scoring Angel Prewitt who lead off the inning.
HPU retaliated with a single run in the top of the sixth without getting a hit but walked, advanced on an error and scored with a sacrifice fly.
HPU’s freshman Taylor Thompson of Phoenix, Ariz./Pinnacle threw the complete game, her 21st, allowing two earned runs on five hits with three walks and three strikeouts to move to 12-14 on her freshman season.
Seto (3-4) came back for game two going four and one thirds innings allowing three earned runs on eight hits to take the loss. Malia Risdall finished the short game with one and two thirds innings giving up two runs (one earned) on a hits with two strikeouts.
The Sharks have closed another season out with a 17-15 PacWest Conference record with just a twelve person roster. They bid farewell to three of their teammates and will be back for more action in the 2023 season.
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