UH-Hilo’s softball team flipped one script when it won comfortably – the Vulcans’ victories of late had come in nailbiters.
Then a familiar scenario crept in as Dominican rallied in the second game.
UH-Hilo started a lengthy Northern California road trip with a split Thursday, thanks to Leah Gonzales and Billi Derleth, who fueled a 5-1 victory in San Rafael, Calif.
Gonzales (2-3) delivered a three-hitter for the Vulcans (9-13, 3-9 PacWest), striking out three and allowing just one walk, and the freshman got a boost from an unlikely power source.
Derleth, making just her third start as a designated player, hit a two-run shot in the third inning as UH-Hilo scored three runs.
Cristina Menjivar had two of her team’s six hits, and Brinell Kaleikini collected a run-scoring single in the seventh.
The Penguins (11-15, 10-6) struck back against Danielle Wilson (4-5) for an 8-3 victory in the second game, and UH-Hilo managed just five hits – two from Kristen Ishii.
Kaleikini hit an RBI double for the Vuls. In 2 1/3 innings, Wilson yielded four runs – three earned – on two hits and three walks with a strikeout.
UH-Hilo visits Academy of Art on Saturday.
Vuls baseball swept
It went from bad, a 11-2 loss, to worse, a 13-2 defeat, for UH-Hilo in a doubleheader at No. 15 Azusa Pacfic.
The bright spot for the Vulcans (3-11, 3-9 PacWest) was Phillip Steering, who homered in each game.
In the second game, Drew Ichikawa pitched five solid innings in his debut, allowing just one run and one hit in five innings before the Cougars (21-3, 8-2) beat up on the Vulcans’ bullpen.
Dylan Sugimoto and Steering each had two hits, and Kamehameha graduate Brandyn Lee-Lehano was the only Vul to provide relief, tossing a scoreless inning with a strikeout.
Steering also had two hits in the first game, as did Jacob Grijalva. Alec Telles (1-2) was ineffective in his start, giving up 13 hits and 10 runs in 7 1/3.
The teams play another doubleheader Friday.
