IRVINE, Calif. -- Hawai`i Hilo took three games off the PacWest’s defending champion Concordia to improve to 6-3 in conference play this season.
 
In the first game of the series, Valerie Alvarado tossed a complete game with no runs allowed on just two hits for her fifth win of the season. Vevesi Liilii scored the only run the Vulcans needed, hitting solo shot in the second inning for the 1-0 victory.
 
Biola is now in first place in the conference standings after winning six of eight games in Hawai`i last week. The final game of the week for Biola was a 10-inning pitching duel between Paige Austin and Ashlee Laver that finally ended on an unearned run for the Eagles in the top of the 10th inning.
 
Biola also had a 10-inning game against Hawai`i Hilo with Leah Gonzales throwing all 10 frames for the Vulcans. Tori Apodaca got the game-winning hit with an RBI single in the 10th inning, while Austin earned the win with 3.1 innings of relief pitched.
 
Holy Names improved to 5-3 in conference this season by winning three of four games last week. After splitting against Academy of Art, the Hawks swept a doubleheader against Notre Dame de Namur. Haighley Kissee scored six runs with four doubles and a triple, ranking second in the conference in batting average for the week.
 
This week, Hawai`i Pacific will travel to the Bay Area to face Academy of Art and Holy Names. Biola will conclude its trip to Hawai`i with a four-game series against Chaminade. Concordia has eight games on the schedule this week, hosting Dominican and Notre Dame de Namur.
 
Weekly awards for the week of March 2-8
 
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Jennifer Morinishi, Biola
LHP/OF, So., 5-3 -- La Palma, Calif.
Morinishi went 11 for 29 on the week, helping Biola win six of eight games against Hawai`i Hilo and Hawai`i Pacific. The sophomore recorded four RBIs, four runs, four doubles and a home run. She also made four pitching appearances and got a win by throwing three hitless innings against Hawai`i Pacific. In the second game against the Sharks, Morinishi went 3 for 4 at the plate with two doubles, one run and one RBI. It was her 10th multi-hit game of the season and the third time with multiple extra-base hits.
 
PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Paige Austin, Biola
RHP, Jr., 5-5 -- Los Alamitos, Calif.
Austin has recorded wins in all of her last eight outings and has recorded either a win or a save in 12-consecutive appearances. She tallied five wins last week and struck out 22 batters in 34.1 innings pitched with just four earned runs allowed. Austin won a 10-inning pitching duel with Hawai`i Pacific, throwing 166 pitches for a 1-0 victory to improve to 10-1 on the season. Austin now has a 1.75 earned run average and has struck out 71 batters in 72 innings pitched for Biola this season.
 
FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
Ashlee Laver, Hawai`i Pacific
RHP, Fr., 5-6 -- Irvine, Calif.
Laver picked up her fourth win of the season by pitching a two-hit shutout against Azusa Pacific. She struck out four batters in the victory with only one walk. She threw another complete game with just two runs allowed. Then on Friday, the freshman threw 10 innings against Biola before an unearned run broke a scoreless tie. Laver had two strikeouts and just six hits allowed in the 10 frames. She has now thrown four-consecutive complete games.