(photo of Markie Okamoto courtesy of Rick Ogata)

The 2021 UH Hilo softball Vulcans head to Oahu this weekend for a four-game series versus Hawai`i Pacific at Howard A. Okita Field in Kaneohe. 

The Vulcans and Sharks will play doubleheaders with noon starts on both Saturday and Sunday. 

UH Hilo has been idle for a week, having last swept Chaminade in a four-game series two weeks ago to move to 5-0 on the season. HPU will be looking for its first victory of the season (0-7) after falling four time to Chaminade last wekend by counts of 8-0, 4-3, 3-2 and 10-2. 

The Sharks and Vulcans met in UHH's first game of the year back in mid-March, with UH HIlo claiming a 6-1 win in the series opener. The other three games were washed out in Hilo. 

Hawaii Pacific leads the all-time series between the two teams, 104-94-2.

Despite the slow start, HPU has a couple of hitters that are red hot. Noel Saunders and Brandi Leong are both hitting .400 to lead the Sharks. HPU pitching features Megan Wilson (3.60 ERA) and Malia Torres (4.14).

The Vulcans have a team batting average of .305, led by catcher Markie Okamoto at .533 with a pair of doubles and five RBI. Chloe Domingo is hitting .429 with four RBI, and Vevesi Liilii is hitting at a .389 clip with two doubles, a home run and eight RBI.

UH Hilo's one-two pitching punch has been formiable. Senior Valerie Alvarado has given up just two earned runs in 23 innings (0.13 ERA) and has allowed just 13 hits. She is 2-0. Freshman Sara Bhatt is 3-0 and has yet to give up a run in 9.1 innings.

The games can be watched via video stream by following the links at hpusharks.com.