LAS VEGAS, Nev.—Bailey Gaspar bombed a three-run homer in the first inning and Danielle Wilson went the distance in the pitcher's circle in her season debut as Hawai`i Hilo defeated Western New Mexico 6-4 to gain a split of games on Saturday at the Desert Stinger.

UH Hilo improved to 2-1 on the season and at the tournament, while the Mustangs fell to 0-4. Earlier in the day, the Vulcans lost an eight-inning heartbreaker to Sonoma State, 9-8.

Prior to this game, the Vulcans had scored a total of 17 runs in two games, and they looked to return to that pace at the beginning of this one.

After WNMU put up three runs in the top of the first, UHH answered with a five spot in the bottom half of the inning. Kristen Ishii led things off by getting  hit by a pitch, and Mari Kawano followed with a single.

Gaspar then launched a shot over the right-centerfield fence, her third home run in three games. Four walks and two sacrifices later, the Vulcans had two more runs and it looked like the slugfest was on with UHH up 5-3.

The Vulcans added another run in the second inning without the benefit of a hit to make it 6-3. On other side of the scorebook, after a rough first inning, Wilson settled in and didn't give up a run until the sixth inning to make it 6-4.

That was important because the Vulcan bats stopped working and there were zeros on the board for them the rest of the way. But Wilson shut down the Mustangs in order in the seventh to preserve the victory.

The senior right-hander scattered eight hits, struck out four and walked just one to begin the year 1-0. Offensively, Gaspar was walked twice after her first inning home run and no Vulcan player had more than one hit.

The Vulcans will continue play at the Desert Stinger on Sunday, taking on two teams from the California Collegiate Athletic Association—Cal State Dominguez Hills and Cal State San Bernardino.