Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
Video HIghlights Game 1 (Courtesy of OCSports)
Video Highlights Game 2 (Courtesy of OCSports)

HONOLULU-The University of Hawai'i softball team (32-22, 12-8 Big West) overpowered UC Davis (18-30, 6-14 Big West) in a conference doubleheader sweep on Friday night. The Rainbow Wahine overcame an early four run deficit in the first game to win going away, 10-5. Then in the nightcap, the 'Bows launched five home runs en route to a 13-1 win in five innings. Brittany Hitchcock and Kanani Aina Cabrales both earned complete game wins while Leisha Li'ili'i was red hot on offense going 6-for-7 at the plate with seven RBI, a double and two home runs. The 'Bows pounded out 21 hits and scored 23 runs with a power surge of two doubles and eight home runs in the two games at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

Hawai`i 10, UC Davis 5
Box Score (html)

UC Davis jumped out to a 5-1 after 2-1/2 innings before Hawaii came charging back, outscoring the Aggies over the last five innings, 9-0 to open the series with a win. Hawaii's offense erupted for six runs in the fourth inning to overtake UC Davis and never looked back.

Hitchcock earned the complete game win, allowing five early runs on 11 hits with a walk and five strike outs. Hitchcock improved to 17-7 overall and 8-2 in conference.

UC Davis starter Leah Munden threw the first 3-2/3 innings allowing eight runs on seven hits with two walks. Reliever Dana Cruse threw the final 2-1/3 innings, allowing two runs on three hits with a walk and two strike outs.

The Aggies came out firing in the first game, scoring first in the second inning on a two-run home run by Krista Bava.

UH cut their deficit in half in the bottom of the frame when Jordan Burton drove in Rachel Lack, who had reached on an error, from third base with an RBI single bounced up the middle.

UC Davis extended their lead to 5-1 in the top of the third scoring three unearned runs. With two outs, a fielding error on the short stop allowed the first run to score. Later, Ashley Lotoszynski drove in a pair of runs with a single to center to give the Aggies a four run lead.

Hawai'i answered by scoring two in the bottom of the frame on a two-run, opposite field double hit to the left-centerfield gap by Li'ili'i to bring UH within two runs, 5-3.

In the top of the fourth, the Aggies loaded the bases with one out. But, Lack made one of the defensive plays of the game, backhand snagging a hot shot down the third baseline. Lack stepped on third for the first out then fired to catcher Kayla Wartner who applied the tag for the third out escaping unscathed.

The 'Bows then erupted for six key runs in the fourth. 'Ulu Matagiese led the inning off with a single to center and a a fielding error allowed her to sprint to second. Burton then dropped a bunt single to put runners at the corners. After a pop-out to second, Dori Ann Sugai drew a walk to load the bases. Wartner drove in Matagiese with a sacrifice fly to center then Keiki Carlos drove in Burton with a single to center. Heather Morales then drilled a three-run home run over the left-centerfield fence to surge past the Aggies and force a pitching change. For Morales, it was her sixth home run of the season and her career. The Aggies replaced starter Munden with Cruse, but Cruise then gave up a solo home run to Li'ili'i to straight-away centerfield to give UH a 9-5 lead. It marked Li'ili'I's 10^th home run of the season and 48^th of her career.

UC Davis threatened to score again in the fifth inning, loading the bases with two outs on a fielder's choice, a beaned batter and a walk. But Li'ili'i caught a foul pop fly to end the Aggie rally and preserve UH's four run lead.

Hawai'i added one more run in the sixth on an opposite field solo home run by Wartner to leftfield. It was the third home run of the game for the 'Bows and the 10^th roundtripper for Wartner on the season. It also marked Wartner's 34^th career home run which moved her past Tyleen Tausaga into a tie with Tanisha Milca at No. 8 all-time in UH's record books.


Hawai'i 13, UC Davis 1
Box Score (html)

Hawai'i's Aina Cabrales earned a complete game win in the nightcap. She allowed one run on four hits with a walk and four strike outs in five innings of work in the mercy rule game. Aina Cabrales improved to 13-15 overall and 4-6 in conference. She retired 12 of the first 14 batters she faced and took a shutout into the fifth inning.

UC Davis used three pitchers in the second game. Starter Andrea Reynolds took the loss dropping her record to 4-4 overall and 2-2 in conference. She allowed 12 runs on 11 hits with two walks and four strike outs in 2-2/3 innings. Justine Vela threw 2/3 of an inning an allowed one run with three walks and a strike out while closer Alicia Paine also threw 2/3 of an inning. She did not allow any runs or hits.

Li'ili'i started right where she left off in the first game, with a two out, hard-hit RBI-single through the rightside of the infield that drove in Wartner from second. UH led after one inning of play, 1-0.

In the second inning, the 'Bows offense started to click on all cylinders as they batted around the order and scored six runs to extend their lead to 7-1. With one out, Burton started the rally with a chopper over the pitcher for a single. Tayana Mata then crushed a two-run home run over the right-center field fence. It was Mata's second homer of the season. Sugai kept things going with a sharp single to left and Wartner worked her way on with her second walk of the game. Carlos then blasted the second home run of the inning to left-centerfield. It was a three-run blast and it marked Carlos' seventh home run of the season and 21^st of her career. Morales continued the inning by lacing a double down the left-field line and Li'ili'i drove in her second run of the day with an RBI-single to right.

Hawai'i added another five runs-four runs attributed to three home runs in the third inning. Mata led the frame of with her second home run of the game, a solo shot over the leftfield fence. Later,Wartner scored on a passed ball and Li'ili'i kept her hot hitting by going yard for the second time in the doubleheader. For her 11^th home run of the year. Matagiese made it back-to-back home runs for the second time of the day with a solo blast to centerfield. It was Matagiese's third home run this season and fourth of her young career.

Carlos added another run in the fourth on an RBI single that scored Mata who had walked earlier in the inning. The score after four innings was 13-0.

UC Davis kept fighting and scored one run in the fifth inning to thwart Aina Cabrales' bid for a shut out. Christa Castello drove in Alexis Carney with an RBI-single through the left-side of the infield to make the score, 13-1.

Li'ili'i's came into Friday's games tied at No. 4 in school history with 148 RBI. Her seven RBI from tonight's doubleheader pushed her career total to 155, which passes Kelly Majam and Dana Degen with 148 and Kate Robinson for No. 3 with 149 RBI. Li'ili'i is now just one RBI behind former All-American Tyleen Tausaga for No. 2 at 156.

Hawai'i now has just one game left in the season. They will face the Aggies on Senior Day, Saturday, May 9 at 1:00 p.m. Four seniors will be honored-Jordan Burton, Leisha Li'ili'i, Kayla Wartner and manager Justine Tjaden.