By BILL O’REAR
By BILL O’REAR
Tribune-Herald sports editor
Aisha Sueda hit a solo home run in the sixth inning and Jessica Pepin made it stand up as the University of Hawaii at Hilo edged Chaminade University 3-2 in the second game of a doubleheader on Saturday.
The Pacific West Conference softball twinbill was played at the UHH field. In the opener, the host Vulcans beat the Silverswords 7-4 as senior Nicole Alconcel and freshman Emily Greene homered. The teams play another doubleheader at noon today to close the four-game series.
Vulcans assistant coach Fred Entilla coached the team Saturday. Head coach Jaime Wallin was held out by university officials for an unannounced reason but is expected to return to coach the team today.
Sueda, a senior second baseman and former Hilo High School standout, went 1 for 2 in Game 2 with two runs batted in. But it was her homer that proved to be the game-winner for the Vulcans (22-18 overall, 16-11 PacWest). She also had an RBI on a groundout in the first inning to lift the hosts on top 1-0.
UHH rallied from a 2-1 deficit in the fifth inning to tie the game 2-2 on Bryanna Hardy’s RBI double to left center. Then in the sixth inning, the Sueda led off with her home run over the left field fence to make it 3-2.
Pepin, a senior right-hander, then shut out Chaminade (15-28, 9-21) the final two innings for the win. Pepin (6-7) went the distance, allowing seven hits and two runs. She struck out three and walked one. Silverswords starter Kaitlyn Watanabe also pitched seven innings, giving up seven hits and three runs with no strikeouts and two walks. She was tagged with the defeat.
Hardy, a senior outfielder, and junior catcher Brittany Spencer each had two hits to lead the Vulcans. Rayna Strom-Okimoto (RBI double) and Aja Keyes each had two hits to lead the Silverswords.
In Game 1, the Vulcans scored five runs in the bottom of the first inning to take control and hold off the Silverswords. Alconcel’s two-run homer and Asha Prithviraj’s RBI double were the big blows in the opening frame as UHH grabbed a 5-2 lead.
In the fifth inning, Greene, a hard-hitting third baseman, added her two-run homer to left field to stretch the margin to 7-2. The Silverswords rallied for two runs in the sixth on Kelsey Berinobis’ RBI single and an unearned run to close scoring.
The Vulcans outhit the visitors 12-7. Prithviraj went 3 for 3 to spark the UHH attack. Alconcel, a multitalented shortstop, Sueda and Greene each added two hits. Berinobis led Chaminade with two hits while Strom-Okimoto had a homer and three RBIs.
UHH ace Amber Waracka (10-8) started and went the distance to earn the win. She allowed seven hits and four runs while striking out two and walking two. Chaminade starter Brett Aspel went all the way and took the loss. She didn’t have a strikeout and walked only one batter.
“Overall, our defense played well and we happened to hit the ball when we needed to today,” Entilla said. “I think coming back home helped our players. They seemed more relaxed and played good softball. Hopefully (today) we can continue to play well and get a sweep.
“But like I tell them, you can never take anyone lightly. Chaminade played really well against HPU last week and we’ve got to be ready for this last doubleheader with Chaminade. They’re a scrappy team.”
The Vulcans end their season by hosting HPU on April 28 in a doubleheader at UHH field.
Game 1
CU 200 002 0 — 4 7 1
UHH 500 020 x — 7 12 1
Game 2
UHH 100 011 0 — 3 7 0
CU 000 200 0 — 2 7 0