LAS VEGAS, Nev.--The Vulcans used the long ball four times to club home a dozen runs during a 12-2 win over Sonoma State on Sunday morning at the Desert Stinger at Majestic Park.
The victory moves UH Hilo's mark to 4-0 in the tournament (4-0 overall), leaving them as one of four undefeated teams in the Desert Stinger with one game left the play. The other unbeatens in the massively large tournament (28 teams) are Chico State, Cal State San Bernardino and UC San Diego. The Vulcans will wrap up the Stinger with a 2:30 pm (Pacific) match-up with Saint Martin's.
The Vulcans brought out the big bats against a Seawolves (3-2) team that has made nine consecutive NCAA tournament appearances.
Bailey Gaspar hit two home runs,
Isabelle Mejia hit one and
Kacie Freudenberger added a fourth round-tripper.
On defense, senior pitcher
Cyanne Fernandez held down the fort with a complete game win to improve to 3-0 on the season. She spread out six hits in seven innings of work, walked two and struck out three.
Gaspar hit a two-run home run in the first inning to catapult the Vulcan offense. Freudenberger rocked a three-run shot in the third inning, and Gaspar added another bomb (solo) in the fifth. Mejia hit a two-run shot in the seventh for icing on the cake.
UH Hilo had 10 hits in the game, three each by Kiara Lincoln and Gaspar. Gaspar drove in four runs. Mejia had two hits and three RBI.
