HONOLULU—The University of Hawai'i softball team (2-0) swept their season opening, Paradise Classic doubleheader on Thursday night at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. Hawai'i's Brittany Hitchcock fired a three-hit shutout over Sacramento State, 5-0 striking out a career-high 11 batters. UH followed by holding off Boise State, 5-3 in the night cap. Kanani Aina Cabrales earning a complete game win. It was UH's young guns who powered the offense. Freshman Callee Heen went 2-for-4 in the opener with a pair of doubles and three RBI which broke the game open against Sacramento State. Fellow freshman Chardonnay Pantastico went 3-for-3 at the plate to help lift the 'Bows over Boise State.
 
Hawai'i 5, Sacramento State 0
Box Score (html)
 
Hitchcock had a dominant performance against the Hornets facing just 26 batters in her first outing of the year. She and the UH defense did not allow a runner past second base. Her 11 strikeouts was the most for a Hawai'I pitcher since Aina Cabrales had 13 against Columbia on March 17, 2015. Previously her career high for strikeouts was eight, which she tallied four different times, the last coming against Cal Poly last season on May 5.
 
In the first inning, the Rainbow Wahine loaded the bases with just no outs. Leadoff hitter Danielle Garcielita drew a four-pitch walk to start the frame. Sarah Muzik followed with an opposite field double drilled to the left-centerfield gap and Nicole Lopez earned another walk to load the bases. However, Sacramento State's pitcher Taylor Tessier then settled down to escape unscathed getting a flyout out to center, a fielder's choice at the plate and a fly out to left to squash the UH rally.
 
Freshman designated player Callee Heen's first collegiate hit came when she ripped a double down the rightfield line with one out in the fourth and Angelique Ramos followed with a walk. But again, the UH rally stalled as the runners were left stranded.
 
Hawai`i broke the scoreless game open in the third to take a 4-0 lead. UH loaded the bases with two outs and Heen came through in the clutch, driving a double to the right-centerfield fence to clear the bases. Ramos followed with an RBI-single also to right-center to drive in Heen from second for a 4-0 lead.
 
The 'Bows extended their lead to 5-0 in the sixth inning on an RBI-single by Heather Morales.
 
Sac State's Taylor Tessier (0-1) suffered the loss, throwing 4.2 innings. She gave up four runs on four hits with five walks and two strikeouts. Savanna Corr closed the game tossing the final 1.1 innings. She allowed one run on four hits with a walk.
 
Hawai'i 5, Boise State 3
Box Score (html)
 
Hawai'i's Aina Cabrales (1-0) earned the complete game win allowing just three runs on five scattered hits. She allowed three walks while fanning seven Broncos.
 
Boise State's Christina Washington also threw a complete game in the loss. She gave up five runs on seven hits with two walks and three strike outs in 6.0 innings.
 
The Rainbow Wahine scored first, posting three runs in the second inning. Chardonnay roped her first collegiate hit to right-centerfield to drive in Jennifer Iseri from second for an early 1-0 lead. Later in the frame, Muzik drove a double over the centerfielder to drive in both Heather Cameron and Pantastico as the 'Bows took a 3-0 lead after two complete innings.
 
The Broncos battled back to cut UH's lead to just one run at 3-2 in the fourth.  Izzy Serrano led off with a walk and ended up scoring off a double hit over UH's centerfielder  by Rebekah Cervantes. Cervantex later scored on an RBI single by Morgan Lam.
 
UH responded by adding a run in the bottom of the fourth on a Muzik RBI-groundout to score Cameron with the bases loaded and one out.
 
Boise State's Lamb struck again, launching a solo homer to start the six to once again cut their deficit to just one run in the sixth.
 
But, in the bottom of the sixth, Pantastico blasted a shot over the right-centerfield for Hawai'i and her first home run of the season for a 5-3 lead which is how the game would end.
 
The tournament continues on Friday with four more games. At 12:00 pm, Sacramento State takes on UAB. Boise State will then square off against UAB at 2:30 pm. The Broncos will then finish their doubleheader with a game against Sacramento State. Hawai'i will play the final game of the night at 7:00 p.m. All games are at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium where the admission is FREE.