COLLEGE ROUNDUP : Hawaii Pacific Sweeps Out SCC

Southern California College’s softball season came to an abrupt end as Hawaii Pacific swept a doubleheader from the Vanguards in the NAIA Bi-District II tournament Thursday at SCC.

Hawaii Pacific (31-9) won 1-0 and 2-1 to win the three-game series, 2-0, and advance to the NAIA National Championships on May 19-22 in Columbia, Mo.

The losses ended SCC’s most successful softball season.

“Although we lost, I’m real pleased with the way we played,” SCC co-coach Becki Turner said. “We’re learning what it takes to be a champion, and we played Hawaii Pacific real tough today.”

Lisa Shandy pitched a one-hitter with nine strikeouts to lead the Sea Warriors in Game 1.

SCC (40-19-2) threatened to take the lead in the third. But with runners on first and second and no outs, SCC cleanup hitter Renee Hernandez lined into an inning-ending triple play.

With two outs in the sixth, Shandy, Sharon Kahanu, and Tracy Gabriel hit consecutive singles to give Hawaii Pacific its only run.

In the second inning of Game 2, SCC freshman Jen Caruso hit a triple to right-center, scoring Stephanie Wills, to give the Vanguards their only lead of the day.

Hawaii Pacific quickly countered with two unearned runs in the bottom of the second, then Sea Warriors’ pitcher Shannon Akau of Buena Park retired 14 of the final 17 hitters she faced to win.