Hit the ball hard, hit the ball up the middle – that’s all Melanie Morelos ever asks for. ADVERTISING Hit the ball hard, hit the ball up the middle – that’s all Melanie Morelos ever asks for. She got a
Hit the ball hard, hit the ball up the middle – that’s all Melanie Morelos ever asks for.
She got a lot more than she asked for Saturday, driving in seven runs to pace the University of Hawaii at Hilo to a much-needed softball sweep of BYU-Hawaii at home.
“The runners were doing their job, all I had to do was hit the ball,” Morelos said after 8-0 and 6-4 victories. “It’s fun to play with teammates that have your back.”
Morelos’ two-run single in the sixth inning of the second game ignited a four-run rally as the Vulcans (25-15, 14-9 Pacific West Conference) answered the Seasiders’ four-run uprising against Danielle Wilson (10-7).
Morelos, who cranked a two-run home run in the first, couldn’t recall a seven-RBI day before, even dating back to high school.
“I just saw the ball really well,” said Morelos, of Los Banos, Calif.
In the opener, she ended a TKO victory with a two-run double in the sixth to back Vanessa Salinas.
“It was great to see her relaxed in the box,” coach Peejay Brun said. “That’s what we’ve been talking about with her.”
Salinas (15-8) tossed a two-hit shutout with five strikeouts, then she came on and got the final two outs in the second game for her third save.
Wilson took a no-hitter into the sixth, but rain caused a 10-minute delay and the sky almost fell in as BYU-Hawaii (7-12, 3-15) rallied to take the lead.
“I think the rain kind of took her out of her groove,” Brun said. “I still have all faith that she can find it.”
In 6 1/3, Wilson allowed three hits and four runs – three earned – with two walks.
Morelos went 5 of 6 on the day from the cleanup spot, raising her average to .295. The designated player is tied for second on UH-Hilo with 22 RBIs and her three home runs are fourth.
“Earlier today we were talking about the No. 4 spot being almost a black hole spot,” Brun said. “It was nice for her to show up and be a positive spot for us.”
Salinas drove in three runs with a pair of hits in her victory.
Winners of 13 of 15, the Vulcans are a game and a half ahead of Notre Dame de Namur for third in the PacWest and are treating every game as must-win if they want to reach regionals.
UH-Hilo visits Hawaii Pacific for a doubleheader April 11.
Colleen Aubrey’s RBI single with two out outs in the sixth cut UH-Hilo’s deficit to 4-3, Aubrey finished 2 for 4, while Danielle Wilson was 2 for 3,
