Box Scores: SSU 4, UHH 2 / SSU 5, CWU 1

TURLOCK, Calif- Rochelle Vanyi had three hits and three RBI, including a two-run home run in Friday's opener against Hawaii Hilo, helping Sonoma State to a 4-2 win over the Vulcans and then a 5-1 victory over Central Washington to go 2-0 on day one of the Tournament of Champions, Presented by Mizuno. The Seawolves improve to 21-10 this season.

Sonoma State 4, Hawaii Hilo 2

Vanyi got the scoring started in the first inning with a blast to left center field, scoring Skylynn Myers, who singled with two outs prior to Vanyi's at bat.

Hawaii Hilo couldn't get much going against SSU starter Julianne Martinez until the third when the Vulcans loaded the bases with no outs. A RBI single and a sacrifice fly scored a pair of runs for UHH, but Martinez pitched herself out of the jam, not allowing the home team on the scoreboard to take the lead.

The game remained at 2-2 before Brittanie Verissimo doubled down the left field line to lead off the fourth and advanced to third on a groundout by Jesse Talaugon. Ali Palermo then came up and laid down a beautiful suicide squeeze bunt and Verissimo beat the underhand throw home and Sonoma State led 3-2.

The Seawolves tacked on another insurance run in the sixth when Vanyi reached base on an infield single, before stealing second and advancing to third on a throwing error by the catcher. B. Martinez delivered a sacrifice fly in deep left field, enabling Vanyi to score easily for the 4-2 advantage.

Samantha Lipperd, who made her third relief appearance of the season, replaced J. Martinez in the fifth and didn't allow a hit in 2.2 innings. She walked two and struck out six of the nine batters she faces. J. Martinez (7-5) got the victory, scattering four hits and giving up both Hawaii Hilo runs. Lipperd earned her first save of the season.

Vanyi went 2 for 2 with two RBI and two runs scored. Kayla Ledford, Myers and Verissimo each had a hit as well.

The Vulcans got just four hits in the contest -- all four against J. Martinez -- two of which came off the bat of leadoff hitter Kanani Numata.

Sonoma State 5, Central Washington 1

The Seawolves got a quick start on Wildcat starter Lauren Hadenfeld, plating three runs in the top of the first inning. Vanyi put the first run on the board with a RBI double, scoring Danielle Lowe. Verissimo then had a RBI single that brought home Vanyi. Sonoma State then went up 3-0 when Danielle D'Eccliss scored on an error by the CWU first baseman Natasha Wood.

Central Washington got its lone run on a RBI single by Molly Coppinger in the second, but Lipperd, who started the game for the Seawolves, got out of the inning despite loading the bases with one out.

It would be all the offense the Wildcats would get, as Lipperd and reliever Ciara Becerril combined to allow just three CWU hits in the ball game -- Becerril gave up just one hit in her three innings of work. Lipperd went four, giving up two hits, one run while striking out six. Becerril struck out three in her ninth appearance of the season.

Palermo then put Sonoma State up 5-1 with a two-run home run in the top of the third, scoring Vanessa Currie and the Seawolves cruised from there despite Hadenfeld striking out 14 SSU batters, tying her career high.

Ledford and Myers had two hits to lead the Seawolves.

Sonoma State will return to action on Saturday at Pedretti Park in Turlock, facing Chaminade (9:30 a.m.), Dixie State (11:45 a.m.) and Notre Dame de Namur (4:15 p.m.). The Seawolves are not 30-23 in the ten year history of the tournament, including 9-1 in the past two seasons.