Salinas Fires Perfect Game in UHH Road Win

On opening night, University of Hawai`i at Hilo pitcher Vanessa Salinas was five outs away from reaching softball perfection. Eleven days later, she was finally able to get the job done.

Salinas struck out 11 in her first perfect game as a member of the UH Hilo softball program as her team defeated Cal State East Bay 6-0 in the first game of a doubleheader.

The Vulcans won game two by the score of 11-0, a game finished in five innings because of the sport’s mercy rule.

Salinas, a junior transfer from Fresno City College, opened the season by going perfect for five and a third innings against Brigham Young University-Hawaii at the Kona Kickoff Classic before hitting a batter, walking another, and scattering a pair of hits. She did manage to leave that night, however, with a complete game shutout in the 1-0 result.

She helped herself at the plate with a sacrifice fly RBI in the top of the first inning, which preceded Emily Greene’s second home run of the season, a solo blast, to put UHH up 2-0 before Cal State East Bay could make it to the plate.

Center fielder Kristina Victa added three runs batted in for the win.

In game two, UHH scored in every inning except for the fifth and final frame in the mercy rule win.

Arren Nunez had a pair of extra base hits to lead the offensive attack. Her RBI double in the first inning scored Rebecca Lee. The Cypress College transfer followed that up in the fourth inning with a lead off homer to left field to cap the 11 run effort.

Lee and Salinas each drove in a pair of runs for UH Hilo, helping sophomore hurler Ashley Nelson gain her second win of the season.

The Vulcans open PacWest conference play on the road with doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday against Academy of Art.

Game one

Hawai`i Hilo 200 202 0 – 6 9 0

Cal State East Bay 000 000 0 – 0 0 0

Game two

Hawai`i Hilo 316 10 – 11 10 0

Cal State East Bay 000 00 – 0 3 2