It did rain on UH-Hilo’s softball team Sunday in West Hawaii, but Valerie Alvarado had already done her thing, and it was only a light drizzle halfway through the second game of a doubleheader.
Pitcher Sara Bhatt and a mindful lineup took care of the rest, and a hour or so later the Vulcans were headed for Saddle Road as the sun set on a four-game sweep of Chaminade.
In a game of adjustments, UHH made them quickly and precisely, knocking around Madelyn Stockslager – who flummoxed the Vuls a day earlier – twice. The Vuls won 7-0 and 10-2 at Kealakehe High in Kailua-Kona, remaining unbeaten in five Pacific West Conference Hawaii pod games.
“Our batters, without giving away what we’re doing, made really good adjustments on her,” coach Callen Perreira said. “Trying to take pitches on the outside up the middle and to the other way and turning on pitches inside.”
Stockslager and Alvarado locked up in a pitching duel Saturday, and the Vuls had to grind out a 10-inning win, but only one pitcher was up for the rematch Sunday. Alvarado (2-0) tossed a two-hit shutout, walking four and striking out four while retiring 10 in a row at one point.
On the season, the sixth-year senior right-hander has allowed just an earned run in 23 innings.
Second-year freshman Malia Risdall made her first start of the season in the second game, leaving in the third after the Silverswords (2-4) scored twice to tie the game 2-2. Bhatt came on and earned her third win of the series, firing 3-1/3 shutout innings and allowing just one walk and a hit with four strikeouts.
The Vuls only had three pitchers available for the series. Bhatt, no doubt has carved out a role, but Perreira said senior Leah Gonzales and freshman Nia Trinidad are expected back and can contribute when UHH resumes its season April 3-4 at Hawaii Pacific.
“Playing the same teams so many times, it’s great to give them different looks,” Perreira said.
UHH’s hitters were patient against Stockslager, coaxing 13 walks against her in just seven innings covering the two games.
“(Saturday) she dominated us on the outside with the rise ball, which is actually a ball,” Perreira said.
He’s getting offensive contributions from likely sources: Nos. 3-4 hitters Vevesi Liilii and Markie Okamoto. Each hit a double in the first game among their two hits and collected four RBIs apiece on the day.
“That’s what we expect from them,” Perreira said.
In the second game, Darian Obara was 2 for 2 with two runs scored, Kiarra Lincoln walked three times and scored three runs, Taisha Bratton – filling in for Okamoto at catcher – had an RBI single and drove in three runs and Chloe Domingo doubled, scored and drove in a run.
The Vuls earned their first TKO of the season in the sixth on a throwing error, then headed back across the island with two days off to look forward to.
