KAILUA-KONA, Hawai`i--UH Hilo escaped the drama that they had in the series opener (a 10-inning walk off win) with a pair of decisive softball victories on Sunday afternoon at Kealakehe High School against visiting Chaminade.

The Vulcans won the first game of the doubleheader and game three of the series 7-0, behind the two-shutout work of starting pitcher Valerie Alvarado. They won the nightcap in mercy rule fashion 10-2 by scoring in every inning and getting solid bullpen relief for the second day in a rwo by Sara Bhatt.

UH Hilo is now a perfect 5-0 on the season and 5-0 in the Pacific West Conference. Chaminade drops to 2-4 overall and in the PacWest.

Senior hurler Alvarado gave up just the two hits, walked four and fanned four in improving to 2-0 on the season. She had one inning of trouble (the third), when she walked two Silverswords and hit another to load the bases, but was able to get the third and fourth hitter in the Chaminade order via a ground out and strike out. 

At one point, she retired 10 batters in a row. She finished the weekend without giving up an earned run.

Offensively, Vevesi Liilii and Markie Okamoto provided the punch. Liilii drove in three runs with a double and a single, and Okamoto drove in a pair of runs on two hits, including a double. UH Hilo scored four of their runs in the second inning when Liilii doubled home two and Okamoto singled a plate crossing.

In the second game, the Vulcans scored in every inning but needed those runs early when Chaminade scored twice in the third against UHH starter Malia Risdall. With two outs, the Silverswords pieced together three straight hits, including two doubles to chase Risdall and bring in Bhatt. 

Bhatt got the next out to end the inning, and the next batter after that and the next after that....In all, the hard-throwing righthander pitched 3.1 innings, allowed just one hit, walked two and fanned one to improve to 3-0 on the season. 

She had plenty of support. Darian Obara had two hits and scored twice, while Okamoto had a hit and drove in two more runs. Freshman catcher Taisha Bratton had a hit and two RBI. UH Hilo had seven hits in the game, but scored the two clinching runs in the seventh without a hit, thanks to an error and three walks. 

The Vulcans will now get a week off before traveling to Oahu for a four-game slate with Hawaii Pacific on April 3-4.

GAME ONE VIDEO https://www.crowdcast.io/e/softballmarch21at12 (if you purchased game origianlly)
GAME TWO VIDEO https://www.crowdcast.io/e/softballmarch21at2  (if you purchased game originally)