WAIPIO, O`ahu, Hawai'i – The Chaminade University softball team was haunted by the long ball Sunday.
Playing in their second Pacific West Conference doubleheader at Patsy T. Mink Central O'ahu Regional Park, the University of Hawai'i-Hilo got go-ahead homers by Vanessa Salinas in Game 1 and Danielle Wilson in Game 2 to sweep the Silverswords.
Salinas' solo shot in the fourth inning was the only run that Hawai'i-Hilo (10-6, 5-1 PacWest) needed in their 1-0 first game win.
Wilson broke a 6-all deadlock in the seventh with a two-run shot to left to complete the Sunday sweep of the Silverswords (2-10, 1-3 PacWest) in the Vulcans 8-6 victory.
Shannan Hokama had three total hits in the doubleheader for Chaminade while Pulido went 4-for-7 at the plate for UH-Hilo.
Game 1Salinas not only provided the game's only run with her homer, but she went the distance in the complete game shutout, scattering six hits, allowing two walks and striking out four. Salinas was 19-6 and the PacWest's ERA leader at 1.41 in 2013 before sitting out last season.
Hokama and
Elia Lizarraga had two hits in the contest while
Ashley Phelps and
Aja Keyes had the other two Chaminade hits, all of which were singles.
The 'Swords had ample opportunities to plate runs. They had runners at first and second with no outs in the second inning, but couldn't bring them home. In the third, the Silverswords had runners at the corners with one out, but a base running misread at third on
Amber Manuel's fly to right cost her an RBI sacrifice fly and the potential first run of the game. They also stranded runners at second with one out in the fifth and sixth innings.
Chaminade starter
Kaitlyn Watanabe lasted four innings and allowed four hits and one walk, but was still tagged with the loss.
Brett Aspel pitched three innings of scoreless relief.
Game 2The 'Swords struck first in the second inning, taking advantage of the wildness of Wilson, who started the game. Wilson walked Hokama and Manuel and hit Phelps to load the bases with one out.
Jenn Betian then hit a roller to shortstop whose only play was at third base to force out Phelps, but Hokama scored on the play.
The Vulcans took the lead in the third on Emily Greene's three-run homer but the Silverswords answered in their half of the inning. Keyes singled to right but the ball skipped past right fielder Brandi Wilson, allowing Keyes to reach third and scored on Manuel's single to right. Betian then singled to center, followed by a Lizarraga walk to load the bases. Stewart then laced an RBI hit to right to bring home pinch-runner
Kristiann Endow. Pinch hitter
Nicole Erichsen kept the train going, singling up the middle to plate Betian as the bases remained loaded.
Kaleen Terayama then delivered her first RBI of the year on her sac fly to right, which chased Danielle Wilson from the circle in favor of Salinas. But Hokama, the ninth batter of the inning, greeted her with a single to left, allowing Stewart to score from second. In all, five runs came across to score on six hits as the 'Swords brought 10 batters to the plate to give them a 6-3 lead.
UH-Hilo would get two runs back in the fourth then tied it at 6 on Collen Aubrey's single in sixth. In the seventh, Danielle Wilson atoned for her earlier pitching woes driving
Luana Moreno's pitch to center for the go-ahead homer.
In the bottom of the seventh, Manuel led off as her sinking liner couldn't be handled by a sliding Brandi Wilson, giving Manuel her second hit of the game, allowing the tying run to come to the plate. But Salinas retired the next three batters to secure the win.
Manuel had two hits and an RBI in Game 2, raising her batting average to .353. Stewart also had two hits and an RBI. Aubrey had three hits and drove in two for the Vulcans while Vanessa Pulido also had three hits.
Salinas won her second game of the day, raising her record to 6-3. She allowed only two hits in the game's final 4.1 innings. Moreno was charged with the loss in relief, dropping her to 1-4.
The 'Swords will next be in action on Tuesday as they host an exhibition doubleheader against Waseda University of Japan. The game will be played at the new McKinley High School Field with first pitch set for 5 p.m.
