By BILL O’REAR
By BILL O’REAR
Tribune-Herald sports editor
Kelsey Barak and Hailey Walker each clubbed home runs to lead Grand Canyon University to a 7-5 and 7-4 doubleheader sweep of the University of Hawaii at Hilo on Tuesday.
The Pacific West Conference softball twinbill was played in Phoenix, Ariz. The teams play another doubleheader today to close their four-game series.
The host Antelopes improved to 15-8 overall and 6-1 in the PacWest. The Vulcans dropped to 12-5 and 7-5.
UHH coach Jaime Wallin, not one to toss roses when it’s a thorny situation, called Grand Canyon “a good team.”
“It’s disappointing for us because this was a winnable doubleheader,” she said. “Grand Canyon made the adjustments and we didn’t. They had 10 hits and put up seven spots in both games. We had some opportunities but weren’t able to take advantage of them.
“For us, we’ve just got to have better pitching, fielding and capitalize on offense. Today, we had the bases loaded twice and didn’t come through.”
In Game 1, the Antelopes plated four runs in the first two innings off UHH ace Amber Waracka. The biggest blow was Barak’s three-run homer in the second inning. Wallin then called on freshman Ashley Nelson and she held the dangerous hosts to three runs the rest of the way.
GCU started Kiley Raca earned the win. Waracka took the loss.
Aisha Sueda, Emily Greene, Bryanna Hardy and Brittany Spencer each had two hits for the Vulcans. Sueda, a senior second baseman, also had a solo homer while teammate Collette Black added a two-run double. Barak had the key hit for GCU, which outhit the visitors 10-9.
In Game 2, the Antelopes broke a 1-1 deadlock in the fourth inning, scoring two runs and then added four in the sixth for some breathing room in the desert.
The Vulcans plated three runs in the bottom of the seventh before GCU closed the door on the sweep.
Antelope starter Monica Sepulveda went six innings and got the win. UHH starter Jessica Pepin hurled 5 2/3 innings and was saddled with the loss.
Walker’s two-run homer in the fourth sparked the win. Sueda and Gerika Pantohan each had two hits for the Vulcans while the steady Greene had a double. Sophomore Angeline Cruz added an RBI single for UHH.
At Phoenix
UHH 000 410 0 — 5 9 2
GCU 132 010 x — 7 10 0
GCU 010 204 0 — 7 11 4
UHH 100 000 3 — 4 7 2