College softball: Vulcans searching for consistency after another split

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Sometimes, simple quotes from coaches best describe their team.

Sometimes, simple quotes from coaches best describe their team.

“We just have to become more consistent,” Peejay Brun said about her inconsistent UH-Hilo softball team.

The Vulcans are 2-2 after the second day of the Tournament of Champions on Saturday in Turlock, Calif., where most of the top West Region teams are playing.

UHH defeated Simon Fraser 8-3, but lost the back end of a doubleheader to Cal State Dominguez Hills 2-1.

First-year UHH athletic director Pat Guillen was the AD for the Toros (11-28), who are second to last in the California Collegiate Athletic Association with a 6-22 record.

A day earlier, the Vuls (24-15) upset Cal State Monterey Bay 3-0.

The Otters reached the NCAA Division II West Regionals last year.

The Vuls last qualified for the West Regionals in 2013, under former coach Jaime Wallin.

In the 8-3 over the Clan, Billi Derelth pitched five innings and gave up three runs on six hits and four walks for the win. Cyanne Fernandez fired two scoreless innings.

Victoria Garcia and Brandi Wilson each had three hits to lead UHH.

In the 2-1 loss to the Toros, Danielle Wilson went 5 2/3 innings in the defeat. She gave up two runs on five hits and two walks. Fernandez tossed 1 1/3 scoreless innings.

Cristina Menjivar batted 2 for 4 to lead the Vuls, who couldn’t solve Alexis Viramontes as she fired a four-hitter.

The Vuls close the tournament on Sunday against two CCAA teams in host Cal State Stanislaus (20-17) and Cal State Chico (23-10).

The host Warriors didn’t advance to the West Regionals last year while the Wildcats did.

Last season, Chico State lost to Cal Baptist in the West Regionals.

The Lancers and Dixie State are not playing in the Tournament of Champion.

Cal Baptist and Dixie State represented the PacWest at the West Regionals last year.

The Vuls have now lost six of their last eight, a stretch of inconsistency for Brun and her team.