Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif.—The University of Hawai'i softball team (26-19, 7-5 Big West) split Saturday's doubleheader to capture the series over Cal Poly, 2-1. In the first game of the day, the Mustangs tallied six runs in the sixth inning to pull away and defeat UH, 8-1 thus evening the series at 1-1. But the Rainbow Wahine showed their resiliency and bounced right back in the series finale to down Cal Poly, 4-1 to take the series on Saturday afternoon at the Bob Janssen Field in San Luis Obispo, Calif.
 
 
Cal Poly 8, Hawai'i 1
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Kanani Aina Cabrales suffered the loss for UH, dropping her record to 12-13 overall and 3-4 in conference. She gave up eight runs on 11 hits with three walks in six innings of work. Aina Cabrales held the Mustangs to just two runs and four hits going into the sixth inning, but struggled in Cal Poly's final at bat, giving up six runs on seven hits. Earlier, UH's defense showed flashes of brilliance as they turned four, inning ending double plays to stymie the Mustangs early. Jaramillo and Morales both had two unassisted double plays each.
 
Cal Poly's Sierra Hyland earned the win to improve to 17-15 overall 5-5 in the Big West. She gave up just one run on six hits with a walk and six strike outs.
 
In the top of the second, UH's Leisha Li'ili'i and Heather Morales started the inning with back-to-back singles. Both runners moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Sarina Jaramillo. After a strike out, Kristina Akiona was plunked to load the bases with two outs. Dori Ann Sugai then hit a ball to center, but Cal Poly escaped when their centerfielder, Amanda Sandoval made a diving catch to thwart UH's rally for the third out.
 
In the bottom of the second, after a groundout to third, Aina Cabrales issued back-to-back walks to Stephanie Heyward and Ashley Tornio on a 10-pitch and 7-pitch base on balls. Breana West was then hit by the pitch to load the bases. Betsy Colburn then hit a sacrifice fly to deep centerfield to drive in Stephanie Heyward from third for the first run of the game. The Mustangs took a 1-0 lead after two complete innings.
 
Hawai'i tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the third. Keiki Carlos led the inning off with a double to the centerfield wall. After a strike out, Rachel Lack singled through the leftside of the infield to put runners at the corners. UH then executed a double steal which left Lack at second and allowed Carlos to cross the plate. Cal Poly starter Sierra Hyland then got a ground out and a foul fly-out to left to end the rally.
 
Cal Poly went back in front 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth. Heyward led off with an infield single to second. Tornio then dropped a sacrifice bunt, but a fielding error on the third baseman left runners at first and second. West then executed a second sac bunt to push both runners into scoring position. Colburn then followed with a single up the middle to drive in Heyward. Jaramillo then turned UH's third, inning ending double play of the game as she fielded the grounder, stepped on second and fired to first to escape any further damage on the scoreboard.
 
The Mustangs put the game away in the bottom of the sixth scoring six runs on seven  hits. Hyland led off with a double to right-centerfield and Heyward singled up the middle and advanced on the throw home which left runners at second and third. After a pop-out to second, West doubled to centerfield to drive in both Heyward and pinch runner Alina Goodrum. Colburn then doubled down the rightfield line to drive in pinch runner Shawna McDonough. Cal Poly went on to load the bases and Chelsea Convissar then cleared the bases with a double to the right-centerfield gap to increase their lead to 8-1.
 
Hawai'i 4, Cal Poly 1
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Hawai'i got on the scoreboard first, posting two runs in the top of the second. Willmon led the inning off with a single to left. Jaramillo then put down a sacrifice bunt, but on the play the infield tried to force the runner at second unsuccessfully which left runners at first and second. Kayla Wartner then got an infield single back to the pitcher to load the bases for Ulu Matagiese who singled through the rightside of the Mustang infield to drive in Willmon. Keiki Carlos drove in UH's second run on a sacrifice fly that drove in Jaramillo.
 
Cal Poly cut their deficit in half on an RBI single to centerfield that drove in Heyward from second. After two complete innings, UH led 2-1.
 
Hawai'i tallied two runs on four hits in the top of the third to extend their lead to 4-1. Morales led off with a single up the middle. A ground out to first allowed pinch-runner Sarah McAndrew move to second base. Willmon then drilled a single through the leftside of the infield which drove in McAndrew from second. Jaramillo kept things going with a single up the middle to put runners at the corners. Wartner then drove in Willmon with a single to left to give UH a three-run lead.
 
That would be all run support UH starting pitcher Brittany Hitchcock would need as she went on to shut down the Mustangs for the rest of the game. After giving up a two out single in the third, Hitchcock retired the next 11 straight batters until issuing a walk with an out in the seventh. She did not allow a Mustang hit in the final 4-1/3 innings. For the game, she gave up one run on four hits with a walk and two strike outs. Hitchcock improved to 13-6 overall and 4-1 in conference.
 
Cal Poly's Lindsey Chalmers took the loss, dropping her record to 5-8 overall and 0-2 in the Big West. She got the start and threw the first three complete innings, allowing all four runs on eight hits with three strike outs. Hyland, who started the game at third and then was temporarily the designated player as she warmed up, made her second pitching appearance of the day and third in the series. She tossed the final four innings and did not allow any runs. She gave up two hits with no walks and three strike outs.
 
Hawai'i tweaked their lineup a little for the final game in the series. Although the top half of the order went 2-for-16 (No. 3 Morales was 2-for-4 at the plate); it was the bottom half of the line-up that came through for the 'Bows. Collectively the No. 5-9 batters were very productive, going 8-for 14 with Willmon hitting 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI; Jaramillo was 2-for-2 with a run and a sacrifice bunt; Wartner went 2-for-3 with an RBI; Matagiese was 1-for-3 with an RBI and Dori Ann Sugai went 1-for-3 as well. For the three-game series, Willmon led UH hitting .556 (5-for-9) with two runs scored, a double and an RBI while Morales hit an even .500 (4-for-8). 
 
The Rainbow Wahine return home to play UC Santa Barbara in a three-game conference series this coming week. The two teams will square off in a single game on Friday, April 24 at 6:00 p.m. On Saturday, the series will conclude with a doubleheader beginning at 4:00 p.m. Saturday is also Military Appreciation Day at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium with the 'Bows wearing special Under Armour fatigue jerseys in honor of our military both here and abroad both past and present.