By BILL O’REAR
By BILL O’REAR
Tribune-Herald sports editor
Hawaii Pacific University used strong pitching and timely hitting to sweep a doubleheader from the University of Hawaii at Hilo, 2-0 and 3-0, on Saturday afternoon.
The season-ending Pacific West Conference softball twinbill was played at the UHH Field on a sunny day that the Vulcans and their fans honored six seniors.
The UHH seniors include Aisha Sueda, Nicole Alconcel, Amber Waracka, Jessica Pepin, Bryanna Hardy and Emily Heinemann.
“We would have liked to split or swept HPU but no matter the final outcome, we were able to honor our outgoing seniors,” UHH coach Jaime Wallin said. “HPU got strong pitching and some timely hits today. We got solid pitching but weren’t able to take advantage of some of their mistakes and we lost two close games.”
The visiting Sea Warriors (30-18 overall) finished fourth in the PacWest standings with a 22-10 record. The Vulcans (24-20 overall) placed fifth in the 10-team conference with an 18-13 mark.
“We’re not happy about finishing in the middle of the pack,” Wallin said. “It just shows we’re going to have to get better. We’ve already signed four players who we think can help us next year, but we’re also going to try to bring in players with more playing experience, maybe Division I transfers or junior college players.
“If we’re going to get better all around, we also need our returnees to step up and get better.”
In the opener Saturday, senior Breanne Patton (19-7) hurled a three-hit shutout to beat the Vulcans 2-0. She struckout four and walked two in going the distance for the win. UHH starter Amber Waracka (9-9) went all the way and took the loss. She allowed two runs and 11 hits while striking out four and not giving up a walk.
Keila Elderts led the Sea Warriors’ attack, going 3 for 3 and scoring both runs. Nicole Morrow and Caira Pires each added two hits while Patton had a hit and a run batted in to help her own cause.
Hardy went 2 for 2 to lead the hosts. Junior catcher Brittany Spencer had the team’s other hit.
In Game 2, HPU junior Melissa Kirby outdueled Pepin in a 3-0 decision. Kirby (11-8) hurled seven shutout innings, giving up five hits and earning the win. She struckout one and didn’t walk a batter.
Pepin (7-7) went the distance and took the loss. She allowed eight hits and three runs — two earned. She struckout one and didn’t give up a base on balls.
Morrow, a junior catcher, went 3 for 3 with an RBI to lead the Sea Warriors. She was the lone HPU batter to pair hits. Patton, playing first base in the second game, knocked in the other run.
Alconcel led UHH with two hits while Alena Hookani, Collette Black and Angeline Cruz each added a single.
Game 1
HPU 101 000 0 — 2 11 0
UHH 000 000 0 — 0 3 0
Game 2
UHH 000 000 0 — 0 5 1
HPU 100 002 x — 3 8 0