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LAS VEGAS, Nev.—The University of Hawai'i softball team (4-3, 0-0 Big West) fell in their opener of the DeMarini Desert Classic to BYU, 9-1 on Thursday afternoon at the Eller Media Stadium. Brittany Hitchcock suffered her second loss of the season, dropping her record to 2-2 overall, while BYU's McKenna Bull threw a complete game to notch her third win of the season.

Hitchcock started the game well. The Cougars got a one-out single, but Hitchcock struck out the side to head to the bottom of the first. Then in the bottom of the first, Sarah Muzik led off with a walk and quickly scored on an RBI-double to the right-centerfield gap by Nicole Lopez for an early 1-0 UH lead.
 
In the top of the second, BYU's Madison Merrell and Ashley Thompson started the inning with back-to-back singles. Both runners moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Coco Tauali'i Bond.  Hitchcock then got a swinging strike out for the second out, but BYU's Caitlyn Larsen followed with a two-run single to left to score both runners to leapfrog UH into the lead, 2-1.
 
The Cougars scored a run each in the third and fourth innings to extend their lead to 4-1. In the top of the third, an RBI-double to left by Libby Sugg to scored Lauren Bell from second. In the fourth, after leading the inning off with a double, McKenzie St. Clair scored on a fielding error on the second baseman.
 
Hawai'i threatened to score in the bottom of the fourth loading the bases with just one out with Rachel Lack leading off with a single, Jennifer Iseri drawing a walk and Rachel Turner reaching on an error on the shortstop. But the Cougars escaped unscathed by getting a strike out and a ground out to short to thwart the Rainbow rally.
 
Kanani Aina Cabrales entered the game in the fifth inning in relief of Hitchcock. She was able to hold the Cougars at bay after three-straight scoring innings.
 
The Rainbow Wahine's Lopez led the bottom of the fifth off with a single to center. After a strike out, Lopez sprinted to third on an opposite-field hit by Heather Morales down the rightfield line. After a second strike out in the inning, Ulu Matagiese drew a walk to load the bases for the second straight inning. But the Cougars would again stymie the 'Bows with a strike out to end the inning.
 
BYU added two runs in the sixth and three more in the seventh on a two-run home run by pinch-hitter Alexa Strid in the sixth and an RBI-single by St. Clair and a two-run home run by Larsen in the seventh.
 
On offense, Hawai'i had at least one runner on base in every inning. UH struggled to move runners accross the plate, leaving 11 runners on base in the game and going 0-for-11 with runners in scoring position. 

BYU's Bull (3-2) threw all seven innings, allowing just one run on four walks and nine strike outs.

Hawai'i's HItchcock threw the first four innings, allowing four runs on nine hits with no walks and five strike outs. Aina Cabrales threw the next two innings, allowing two runs on one hit with three walks. Iseri threw the final frame, allowing three runs on three hits with a walk and a strike out.

Hawai'i continues its play in the DeMarini Desert Classic with a doubleheader on Friday. The 'Bows will take on Oregon State at 3:45 pm PT and then Wichita State at 6:00 pm at the Stephanie Lynn Craig Softball Complex.