Vulcans rally in Game 1, take split

Frosh play big role in season-opening win

By BILL O’REAR

Tribune-Herald sports editor

Aisha Sueda and Emily Greene drove in two runs and freshman Ashley Nelson tossed 42/3 shutout innings to spark the University of Hawaii at Hilo to a 7-4 win over Cal State Stanislaus in the first game of a doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon.

About 100 fans watched the collegiate softball twinbill between the NCAA Division II West Region teams at the UHH Field. In Game 2, the Warriors from Turlock, Calif., fought past the Vulcans 7-5 to earn a split.

The teams play noon doubleheaders on Thursday and Friday to close the six-game series.

Sueda, a senior second baseman out of Hilo High School, had two hits and drove in two runs with a clutch double while Greene, a freshman utility player/pitcher from Woodland Hills, Calif., clubbed a two-run homer as the hustling Vulcans (1-1) rallied from a four-run deficit to open their season with a hard-earned victory. Greene’s 200-foot homer hit the top of the left field fence and bounced over.

“That was nice for Emily, her first collegiate hit was a home run,” UHH coach Jaime Wallin said.

Vulcan teammate Angeline Cruz, a sophomore outfielder from Rocklin, Calif., also had two hits, including a solo homer.

“I was really pleased with our offensive production up and down the lineup,” Wallin said. “I was also impressed (in Game 1) with the five-spot we put up on the board. That was nice to see and I think we’ll be able to score runs this year. We’ve got to do a better job pitching — and part of it is my fault, but we can give that many free passes to a good hitting team.

“Defensively, we were OK, but I think some of the mistakes we made today we won’t make later on. The first couple of innings we were nervous, then we settled down and played pretty well.”

And while Sueda, Greene and Cruz helped fuel the potent UHH offense in the opener, the young Nelson, a strike-throwing southpaw from San Diego, shut down the dangerous Warriors after they plated four runs off Vulcans ace Amber Waracka over the first 21/3 innings.

CS-Stanislaus (4-5) scored two runs in the first inning and one each in the second and third frames to go up 4-0. In their productive attack against Waracka, Warriors third baseman Jordan Flora ripped a home run as the visitors looked like they might blow open the contest under blue skies and with a light breeze streaming across the field.

But Wallin sent Nelson (1-0) to the mound and the slender hurler with a relaxing smile handcuffed CS-Stanislaus the final 42/3 innings. She allowed three hits, three walks and struck out two in a rock-steady performance to pick up the win in her collegiate debut.

“Ashley came in and did a good job,” Wallin said. “She competed well and got out of a couple of jams. She’s mentally tough and didn’t get flustered when her defense made a couple of mistakes.

“Overall, she threw strikes and came up with some big pitches. She has a bright future for us as she continues to develop.”

Junior Brittani Weatherford (0-1) started for the Warriors and pitched four innings. She gave up seven hits and seven runs while walking three and striking out five. Reliever Kiley Mendez went the final two innings, allowing three hits and no runs.

For Game 1, the Vulcans had 10 hits off the Warriors’ pitching duo — including the timely Greene and Cruz homers plus doubles by Sueda, junior Asha Prithviraj and freshman Gerika Pantohan.

UHH shortstop Nicole Alconcel had a single and scored a run. She also anchored the host’s solid defense. The athletically gifted senior said she felt good about the season-opening win over the Warriors and that falling behind early didn’t shake her faith in the team.

“We didn’t get down,” Alconcel said. “We were confident we could come back.

“Amber (Waracka) had a rough start, but some days you’re on and some days you’re not. Ashley came in and did a good job. We know when someone is down, someone else will step up.”

Alconcel, out of Baldwin High on Maui, also said the Vulcans’ game plan against the CS-Stanislaus pitchers in Game 1 proved effective.

“Coach (Wallin) thought they would throw us some slow balls since they knew we’re a good fastball hitting team,” she said. “So our strategy was to go the opposite way and it worked.”

Mendez, who played in the outfield before relieving Weatherford, was the lone Warrior to pair hits. She also had a double and two runs batted in. Junior lead-off batter Rachel Borges and Flora each had a hit and an RBI.

In Game 2, junior shortstop Sarah Locarnini had two hits, an RBI and scored three runs and Mendez had a hit and three RBIs to lead CS-Stanislaus. Weatherford added a hit and scored twice for the visitors.

Left fielder Bryanna Hardy (2 RBIs) and right fielder Amanda Nazario each had two hits for the Vulcans.

Warrior starter Natalie Rendon went five innings, allowing five hits and four runs. She walked four and struck out two. Rendon earned the win with relief help from Kristan Burns (one-third of an inning) and Mendez (12/3 innings).

Senior Jessica Pepin (0-1) started for UHH and pitched 32/3 innings. She gave up five hits and five runs to go along with six walks and two strikeouts.

Waracka hurled the final 31/3 innings, allowing two hits and two runs. She walked one and struck out four.

“We had some late opportunities in the second game, but we couldn’t take advantage of them,” Wallin said. “Sometimes the game comes down to a little luck and getting a break. In Game 2, the ball didn’t roll our way.

“Overall, I’m pleased with our performance and we’ve got some really good young players in the mix that will help us. Stanislaus is a good team. They’re going to be formidable in their conference and the region. Opening the season against them is a good test for us.”

Following the Stanislaus series, the Vulcans will battle their alumnae at noon Feb. 25, then host Notre Dame de Namur in a PacWest twinbill on March 3.

Game 1

CSS 211 000 0 — 4 6 2

UHH 005 200 x — 7 10 2

Game 2

CSS 002 320 — 7 7 0

UHH 001 031 — 5 8 1