HONOLULU—The University of Hawai’i softball team (3-1) split its doubleheader on Day 2 of the Paradise Classic Tournament. In their first game, the Rainbow Wahine’s offense was clicking on all cylinders, racking up 16 runs in five innings to defeat St. Mary’s. 16-2. But in the nightcap,Utah Tech flipped the script as Hawai’i struggled from the get-go, falling to Utah Tech in five innings, 12-3 on Saturday at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
Hawai’i 16, St. Mary’s 2 (Five Innnings)
UH’s 16 runs against St. Mary’s was the most runs scored since UH won 16-14 over Fordham in Las Vegas in 2019.
The Gaels got on the board first, in the first. Hannah Fergussen led the game off with a triple and later scored on an error to go up 1-0.
Hawai’i answered by erupting for five runs in the second. With the bases loaded, Cierra Yamamoto drilled a line shot to right-centerfield gap. The SMC centerfielder made a diving catch for the out, but on the play, Izabella Martinez tagged and scored from third. Xiao Gin then cleared the bases with a hard hit single to the right center gap that scored both Cira Bartolotti and pinch runner Larissa Goshi. Ka’ena Keliinoi then blasted a two-run home run to left to give the ‘Bows a 5-0 lead. It mared Keliinoi’s first home run of the season and fifth of the junior’s career.
In the third, St. Mary’s got a run back as Rylee Gomez got an RBI-single to left to drive in Claudia Kirschner.
The Rainbow Wahine added eight more runs in the third. UH had two runners on base when Mya’Liah Bethea blasted her second home run in as many games, smacking a her fourth career round-tripper to left. Later with the bases loaded, Dallas Millwood drew a walk to force Gin across home plate. Martinez drove in two more runs on a single to left to score both Nakamura and Keliinoi. A throwing error on a Haley Johnson single to short allowed pinch runner Kayla Tierney to score. Later, SMC tried to pick off pinch runner Piper Neri at third, but a throwing error allowed her to score UH’s 13th run.
In the fourth, Hawai’i extended its lead to 16-2. Martinez came through with driving a two-RBI single to push both pinch runner Jadyn Nielsen and Gin across the plate. Johnson followed with an RBI single to left that scored pinch runer Maycen Gibbs.
For Hawai’i, starter Brianna Lopez earned the win, allowed two runs in four complete innings of work. She gave up five hits with two walks. Amelia “Millie” Fidge made her first collegiate appearance, throwing one shutout inning. She yielded a pair of hits with a strikeout.
St. Mary’s Odhi Vasque started the game, but walked the first two batters and was replaced by Chelsea Bennett who threw the next 1-2/3 innings. She suffered the loss to fall to 0-2 on the season. She allowed five runs on three hits. Marissa Woolsey then came in to throw one inning, giving up seven runs on five hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Vasquez then threw the final 1-1/3 innings. In total, she allowed four runs on five hits with five walks and one strikeout.
Utah Tech 12, Hawai’i 3 (5 innings)
The Trailblazers were hot from the start of the game, scoring eight runs in the top of the first. Utah Tech loaded the bases with one out. T Windle scored from third on a wild pitch to open the flood gates. With the bases loaded again, L Lockwood followed with an RBI single to score LB Kahahawai-Kekona. An RBI double by Trapp forced UH’s Borges out of the game as freshman pitcher Malia Williams came in to try to snuff out the rally. But the hits kept coming as the Trailblazers proceeded to score four more runs on three more hits.
Utah Tech was retired in order in the second, but in the third, the Trailblazers added three runs to take an 11-0 lead.
Hawai’i got two runs on the board in the third. Rachel “Bueller” Sabourin picked up her second, pinch-hit home run for the second-straight day. Her solo shot sailed over the centerfield fence. Later Martinez laced a double to the left centerfield gap to drive in pinch runner Ellyanna Cinzori.
In the fifth, UT loaded the bases again. S Clements was hit by the pitch which extended their lead to 12-2.
UH was able to get one run in the fifth. With one out and runners at first and third, pinch hitter Amanda Ajari drove a single up the middle to score pinch runner Nielsen from third.
Borges suffered the loss, allowing five runs on three hits with two walks in 1/3 of an inning of work. Williams tossed two innings, giving up five runs on five hits with a walk and a strikeout. Fidge made her second appearance of the day, allowing two runs on three hits with a walk and four strikeouts in two innings. Sophomore transfer McKenna Kostyszyn made her first appearance in the Green and White. She got the final two outs and gave up a walk.
Utah Tech’s Attlyn Johnston earned the win to even her record at 1-1. She fireed five innings giving up three runs on seven hits with two walks and a strikeout.
The Paradise Classic concludes on Sunday as Hawai’i will play both teams one last time on Sunday, Feb. 12 at 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
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