ST. GEORGE, Utah--Colorado State University-Pueblo pitcher Samantha Riesen danced around a home run from Hawai`i Hilo's Brinell Kaleikini and two base hits from Isabelle Mejia to lead her team to a 3-1 win over the Vulcans on Thursday afternoon at the Dixie State Courtyard Classic.

Otherwise, Riesen had her way with UH Hilo batters in picking up the first win of the year for the ThunderWolves (1-1). UH Hilo, who had defeated Montana State Billings earlier in the day, is now 2-3.

Riesen, a senior, wasn't flashy (no strikeouts) but did not allow a walk and gave up only four hits in seven innings of work. She got all the offensive help that she would need from fellow senior Michaela Burpee, who hit a two-run single in the first inning and added a solo home run for insurance in the top of the seventh. Burpee, an All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference selection last year, had two of the ThunderWolves three hits and drove in all three runs.

Kaleikini hit her first home run of the season in the bottom of the fifth, and thanks in part to Chloe Domingo's single, the Vulcans had runners on first and second in the inning but couldn't get them home. Mejia would get her second hit of the game in the sixth inning, but she was stranded as well. 

Valerie Alvarado was the tough-luck loser for UH HIlo, throwing a complete-game seven innings and allowing only three hits and two walks. She fanned six ThunderWolves.

The Vulcans will return to action at 10 a.m. at the Canyons Softball Complex to take on Chadron State (Neb.), followed by a 12:30 p.m. (Mountain time) contest against Metro State (Colo.). They will wrap up tournament play on Saturday (12:30) against Colorado Mesa.