Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 | Photo Gallery |

HONOLULU—The University of Hawai'i softball team (27-21, 8-7 Big West) dropped both games in Saturday's Military Appreciation Day doubleheader against UC Santa Barbara (17-31, 4-11 Big West). The Gauchos trailed 2-0 before scoring five runs in the sixth inning to defeat the 'Bows, 5-3 in the opener. In the second game, UCSB fell behind early again, but a grand slam in the fifth put UCSB ahead for good for the win, 5-1 at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. With the two wins, the Gauchos captured the three game conference series.
 
UC Santa Barbara 5, Hawai'i 3
Box Score (html)
 
The 'Bows posted one run in the bottom of the second to take an early 1-0 lead. Lindsey Willmon led the frame off with a stand-up double to the right-centerfield gap. Later Ulu Matagiese drove Willmon in from second with another double to right-centerfield for the game's first run.
 
Kayla Wartner led off the third with a solo blast over the centerfield fence. It marked Wartner's team-leading ninth home run of the season. It also was her 33rd career home run which ties her with former UH All-American Tyleen Tausaga for No. 9 in the UH record books.
 
The Gauchos batted around the order and erupted for five runs in the top of the six to overtake the 'Bows, 5-2. Shelby Wisdom led off with a home run to centerfield. Samantha Stark then doubled down the rightfield line. After a flyout, DeJanae Moore singled to center and advanced to second on a throw to try to get Stark out at third. A ground ball to the rightside resulted with an fielding error on the second baseman that allowed Stark to score from third. A second fielding error on the second baseman put runners at first and second. A wild pitch pushed both runners into scoring position for Jaqueline Hinojosa who drove in a run with an RBI single to left which chased Kanani Aina Cabrales from the pitching circle. Heather Morales then came in and walked the first batter to load the bases. MeShalon Moore then hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Kristen Clark before a ground out to third ended the rally.
 
In the sixth inning, with runners at first and second, one out, and pinch hitter Tayana Mata came to the plate. She hit a little blooper over the pitcher which the second baseman dove for. The home plate umpire called it an out on the fly, but after conferring with the base umpires, it was determined that the ball was trapped. On the play however, Sarina Jaramillo, who was the runner at first, had almost reached second before seeing the home plate umpire call Mata out. So she turned around and sprinted back to first. The second baseman though threw to the shortstop who stepped on second. After much discussion, and about a 20-minute delay the umpires determined that Jaramillo was out at second and runners were left on first and third with two outs, although if the home plate umpire had not made the incorrect call, it would have most likely been full base and one out with the top of the order coming up.
 
Leisha Li'ili'i got one run back in the seventh with her ninth home run of the season to tie Wartner for the team lead. It was the slugger's 47th home run of her four-year career.
 
Aina Cabrales took the loss, dropping her record to 12-14 overall and 3-5 in conference. She gave up five runs on 10 hits with three strike outs in 5-1/3 innings of work. Heather Morales then fired the final 1-2/3 inning with a walk.
 
UCSB's Lena Mayer earned the win to improve to 5-7 overall and 2-4 in the Big West. She allowed three runs on eight hits with two walks and a strike out.
 
UC Santa Barbara 5, Hawai'i 1
Box Score (html)
 
Hawai'i scored a single run in the bottom of the third to take an early 1-0 lead. Keiki Carlos led off with a double to left-centerfield. After a pop-out to short, Heather Morales drove in Carlos from second with an RBI-single to left.
 
In the top of the fifth, UCSB loaded the bases on a pair of infield hits and a walk all on two outs and then MeShalon Moore came through with a grand slam over the leftfield fence to leapfrog the 'Bows on the scoreboard, 4-1.
 
UCSB added another run in the top of the seventh on an RBI-single by M. Moore to drive in Clark to increase their lead to 5-1.

The Gauchos' Ashley Ludlow earned the win improving to 5-17 overall. She threw a complete game allowing just one run on six hits with four strike outs.
 
UH's Brittany Hitchcock took the loss in a complete game effort. She allowed five runs on eight hits with three walks and five strike outs.

The two losses by Hawai'i puts the 'Bows 5-1/2 games behind league leader and their next opponent, CSUN with six games left in the season.
 
Prior to the games, the Rainbow Wahine celebrated Military Appreciation Day. The Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam Navy Color Guard presented the Colors as the Marine Corps Pacific Band played the National Anthem as well as Hawai'i Pono'i. The band also entertained the crowd with several songs in the stands as the teams were warming up. Air Force Colonel Lisa Ann H. Onaga then threw the ceremonial first pitch to get the doubleheader started.

Hawai'i will now return on the road for a three-game conference series at league leaders CSUN next week. The 'Bows will play a single game on Friday, May 1st at 2:00 p.m. and then a doubleheader on Saturday, May 2nd starting at 12:00 p.m.