The UH Hilo softball team heads back to Oahu this weekend and Howard Okita Field, but will face a different opponent this time.
The Vulcans took two from Hawaii Pacific last weekend in Kaneohe at Okita Field, before being rained out of a pair on Sunday. The Vulans improved to 7-0 with the wins and will now face Chaminade, who is 6-4. Both doubleheaders will start at noon.
The Silverswords have emerged as the biggest threat to UHH's hopes of winning the Hawaii Pod. Chaminade has defeated HPU all six times that they have played, a first for the Silverswords in their program's history.Â
Haley Hawakawa leads the CUH offense with a .414 average and a couple of doubles. Kobe Brown is hitting .364 and Taylor Genera checks in at .333 with a team-best seven RBI. Genera is also part of a 1-2 pitching punch for the Silverswords with a 2-1 record and 3.42 ERA. Madelyn Stockslager is the game one starter with a 4-3 mark and 3.10 ERA.
Stockslager was the pitcher in a 2-1 ten-inning loss to the Vulcans in March, one of four games that UHH won versus the 'Swords.Â
On offense, the Vulcans can boast of a robust . 317 team batting average. Catcher
Markie Okamoto is hitting a sizzling .500 with eight RBI, while
Vevesi Liilii is batting .413 with four doubles, a home run and ten RBI.
Chloe Domingo is hitting .400 with two doubles and six RBI.
Valerie Alvarado is the Vulcan ace in the pitching circle with a 3-0 record and a 0.23 ERA. Opponents only have 17 hits in 30 innings pitched against her.
Sara Bhatt is also 3-0 with a 2.47 ERA.
After the Oahu games, the Vulcans will return home, their home away from home that is, for a April 17-18 doubleheader at Kealakehe High School (Kona) rematch against Chaminade.
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