Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

RIVERSIDE, Calif.—The University of Hawai'i softball team (20-22, 4-5 BWC) won their first Big West series of the season with a doubleheader split at UC Riverside on Saturday afternoon at the Amy S. Harrison Field. Hawai'i defeated UCR in the day's opening game, 3-2, but the 'Bows fell in the series finale, 2-0.  
 
Hawai'i 3, UC Riverside 2
Box Score (html)
 
Hawai'i's Kanani Aina Cabrales earned the complete game win, striking out a season-high nine batters with no walks. She scattered seven hits in seven innings. The UH win secured the first conference series win for Hawai'i thus far this season.
 
UC Riverside's Tayler Misfeldt (18-10) tossed her second complete game of the series taking both losses, giving up three runs on eight hits with three walks and six strike outs.
 
The Rainbow Wahine tried to mount a rally in the top of the first as both Nicole Lopez and Heather Morales reached on singles. But UCR's defense got a ground out to third to squelch the rally.
 
In the top of the third, the Rainbow Wahine loaded the bases with two outs and got on the scoreboard first. Sarah Muzik started things off with a one-out bunt single. She went to second on a wild pitch and then moved to third when Lopez laced an opposite-field single to rightfield.  After a flyout to centerfield, Morales was walked to load the bases with two outs. Tayana Mata then drove a single through the leftside of the infield to drive in Muzik for the early 1-0 lead. The Highlanders escaped further damage as they got the final out on a swinging strikeout.
 
The Highlanders knotted the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth. Jenna Curtain led the frame off with an infield single. She stole second and then moved to third on a wild pitch. After a groundout to third, Courtnie Ploesch lifted a sacrifice fly to centerfield to drive in Curtain for UCR's first run of the day.
 
Hawai'i see-sawed in front of the Highlanders in the top of the fifth, going up 2-1. Lopez led off the inning by drilling a single down the leftfield line. Lopez was erased at second on a fielder's choice to shortstop hit by Keiki Carlos. Morales then reached on an error to put runners at first and second. Mata then came through with a double down the third base line to score Carlos from second. UCR's Tayler Misfeldt then settled down to get a swinging strike out and a comebacker to get out of the inning.
 
UH was able to get the first two outs in the bottom of the sixth on a swinging strike out and a fly out to center. But then Curtan drove a single down the leftfield line. She stole second and then scored on a hit by Chelsey Holley.
 
The Rainbow Wahine leapfrogged back into the lead in the top of the seventh when Carlos led the inning off with a solo home run to leftfield. It marked Carlos' second home run of the season and her 24th of her career. UH took a 3-2 lead into the seventh inning.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, Aina Cabrales started the inning with a strike out, but Shylene Helms followed with a single up the middle. But the next Highlander grounded out into a game-ending double play, 6-to-4-to-3 to preserve the 3-2 victory for the 'Bows. 
 
 
UC Riverside 2, Hawai'i 0
Box Score (html)
 
Hawai'i's Brittany Hitchcock (10-10, 3-3 BWC) toed the rubber for the 'Bows in the series finale. She fired a complete game in a losing effort giving up two runs on six hits with no walks and five strikeouts.
 
Both teams' offenses saw opportunities to score go unfufilled early in the game. But, UC Riverside erupted for the game's only runs in the bottom of the third inning. Hannah Rodriguez reached first on an error to start the frame. She moved to second on a groundout. UH got the second out on a pop out to second, but Curtan then hit a single to left to score Rodriguez from second base. Sanchez followed with another single to left and Chelsey Holley then rapped a hit to right to drive in Curtan for the 2-0 lead.
 
 The Highlanders' Anessa Cepeda (1-0, 1-0 BWC) earned the complete game shutout. She spaced four hits with four walks and two strikeouts in seven innings of work.
 
The Rainbow Wahine split Saturday's doubleheader and won the series over the Highlanders, 2-1. The 'Bows will return to Honolulu to host league-leader Cal State Fullerton in a three game Big West series next week. The two teams will square off in a single game on Friday, Apr. 22 at 6:00 pm. On Saturday Apr. 23, it will be "Power in Pink" day at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium with the doubleheader starting at 2:00 p.m. The Rainbow Wahine will be donning special pink Under Armour jerseys to recognize breast cancer awareness.