HONOLULU—The University of Hawai’i softball team (18-12, 4-4 Big West) held off UC Davis, 3-2 to capture their first conference series of the year, 2-1. Hawai’i’s Macy Brandl threw five shutout innings to start the game before running into some trouble in the fifth and sixth innings. Addison Kostrencich earned the win in relief and UH got timely hitting against the Aggies on Sunday afternoon at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
Brandl, who did not figure in the decision, gave up one run on three hits with two walks. Her streak of pitching 14.1 scoreless innings (which started in UH’s win last week at CSUN) came to a halt as Sydney Polli led off the sixth with a home run. Kostrencich then entered the game. She allowed one run on three hits with two walks in two innings of work. Kostrencich improved to 9-7 overall and 2-3 in conference.
The Rainbow Wahine posted a pair of runs to start the game. With two outs and runners at first and second, the ‘Bows executed a double steal with Lliliana Thomas stealing second and Carys Murakami diving home safely. Milan Ah Yat followed with an RBI-single to right that drove in Thomas from second for the quick 2-0 lead.
The Aggies knotted the score at 2-2 in the sixth. Polli led off the frame with a solo shot over the left-centerfield fence. The homer ended Brandl’s appearance as Kostrencich took over in the circle. Later with two outs, Alyssa Dethlefson hit an RBI single that scored Sofia Anderson to tie the game at 2-2.
B6: Yamamoto drives in Kai w/RBI single up the middle! UH leads, 3-2 pic.twitter.com/hPvGCmWtL8
— Hawaii Softball (@HawaiiSB) March 24, 2025
Hawai’i immediately responded in the bottom of the frame. After a fly out to right, Ah Yat ripped a double to the left-centerfield gap. Ellyanna Cinzori followed with a grounder that went for an error on the first baseman allowing both runners to be safe at the corners. After Cinzori stole second, Cierra Yamamoto hit a clutch single up the middle that bounced past the infield which was playing in allowing pinch-runner Keely Kai to cross the plate for what proved to be the winning run, with the score 3-2.
UC Davis tried to rally in the seventh putting two runners in scoring position with two outs. But the UH defense got a groundout to short to end the game.
#HawaiiSB WINS!
UH holds off UC Davis, 3-2!
W/the win UH wins the series, 2-1!
WP- Kostrencich
LP- Sarai pic.twitter.com/fBsuOHCt9T— Hawaii Softball (@HawaiiSB) March 24, 2025
UC Davis’ Ashley Sawai fell to 7-8 overall. She tossed a complete game in the loss, allowing three runs on seven hits with a walk and five strikeouts.
The Rainbow Wahine travel to take on Cal State Fullerton in a three-game series. The two teams square off in a single game on Friday, March 28 at 3:00 p.m. HT, followed by a doubleheader on Saturday, March 29 beginning at 10:00 a.m. HT. All games will be played at the Anderson Family Field.
#HawaiiSB
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