Hawai‘i Pacific waited 10 innings to be served up a victory in the first game of yesterday’s Pacific West Conference softball doubleheader against Hawai‘i-Hilo. In the second game, they helped themselves.
Kim Fukumoto hit 4 for 6 with a double and three RBIs as the Lady Sea Warriors beat the Vulcans, 4-3 and 4-1, at the HPU windward campus field.
HPU also got big contributions from Holly Garcia (3-for-8, 2 doubles, 1 RBI) and Kristin Fujii (4-for-8, 1 RBI).
"We were more aggressive in the second game," said HPU coach Howard Okita. "We could have played better, but anytime you can take two games from Hilo, you have to be happy."
HPU improved to 13-1 overall and 11-1 in the PacWest. UH-Hilo fell to 5-5 and 5-5.
Errors erased an otherwise solid performance by UH-Hilo in the first game. In the second inning, a throwing error by Diana Kim allowed HPU runners Tascha Berinobis and Fujii to advance to second and third on a routine single by Fujii. That set up Fukumoto’s scoring single for a 1-0 lead.
The Vulcans bounced back in the third as Melissa Martinez drove in Claresa Asuncion and Abby Padasdao on a double to deep center field for a 2-1 lead.
The Lady Sea Warriors tied the score in the bottom of the inning on a double by Garcia that scored Ashelle Acosta from second. Garcia then advanced to third on a grounder by Berinobis and scored on a single by Fujii for a 3-2 lead.
With two outs in the fourth, UH-Hilo’s Asuncion laid down a bunt along the first-base line and beat the throw, enabling Nancy Vega to score from third.
The score remained 3-3 until the bottom of the 10th when Vulcan catcher Kayla Kaluhi tried to stop Kiki Ishihara from stealing second but threw the ball away, allowing Fujii to score from third.
In the second game, HPU took a 1-0 lead when Kristine Kahoalii walked Garcia with two outs and the bases loaded.
UH-Hilo pulled even in the top of the fourth when Trisha Holley scored from third on a fielding error by Garcia. But the Lady Sea Warriors answered quickly.
Garcia doubled to start the bottom of the inning, then advanced to third on a wild pitch by Kahoalii. Fujii drew a walk, then promptly stole second.
Fukumoto then hit a single to short left to score Garcia. After Fukumoto stole second, Samee Fernandez laid down a bunt along the third-base line and Fujii beat the throw to home.
HPU added another run in the sixth when Brandy Choy Foo smashed a triple to deep center, then scored on a wild pitch.
Chaminade takes two: Anuhea Kekauoha batted 4 for 6 with two homers and six RBIs as Chaminade swept Brigham Young-Hawai‘i, 5-4 and 8-0, yesterday in a PacWest doubleheader at Palolo Field. Kelly Kaaihili dominated the second game, giving up just one hit in five innings.
Chaminade is 6-6 overall and 6-6 in the PacWest. BYUH is 8-4 and 6-4.
