HONOLULU—The University of Hawai'i softball team kicked off its 35^th Anniversary season hosting its Alumnae Game on Saturday night at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. The current Hawai'i squad defeated the Alumnae Team, 9-2 and the 'Bows offense was highlighted by a two-run home run hit by senior Nicole Lopez.
 
Sixth-year senior pitcher Brittany Hitchcock earned the win, throwing 4.0 innings. She allowed two runs on six hits with no walks and three strikeouts. In all, four UH pitchers took the mound against the Alumnae. Rookies Izzy Dino and Ashley Murphy both threw 1.1 and 1.0 innings each respectively, while sophomore Dominique Martinez got the final two outs to end the game.
 
The Alumnae got on the scoreboard first when current assistant coach and former Rainbow Wahine Kaulana Gould laced an opposite-field double down the third base line to drive in Danielle Garcielita for the early 1-0 lead.
 
Hawai'i responded with three runs in the bottom of the first. Tatumn Satow scored on an errant throw to third on a steal that allowed her to cross the plate. Brittnee Rossi came home on an RBI single by junior Callee Heen, and later pinch runner Jennifer Iseri scored on a wild pitch to give the 'Bows a 3-1 lead.
 
UH added two more runs in the second with Heather Cameron scoring on a passed ball and Rossi scoring her second run of the night on a wild pitch that extended Hawai'i's lead to 5-1.
 
In the top of the fourth, the Alumnae cut their deficit to 5-2 as Kate Robinson scored from third off an RBI-single by Kehau (Cofran) Aina.
 
In the fourth, Lopez launched a two-run home run over the left-centerfield fence. Scoring for the third time on the homer was Rossi.  UH led 7-2 after four complete innings.
 
UH tacked on two more runs as Cheeks Ramos came through with a two-run single to push the lead to 9-2.
 
For the Alumnae Team, Kate Robinson took the loss, throwing the first two innings, allowing five runs on four hits with four walks and two strikeouts. Dana Thomsen threw the final four innings allowing four runs on four hits with two walks and six strikeouts.
 
The Alumnae Team actually out-hit the current Rainbow Wahine, 9-8. Over thirty alumnae were in the house for the game—all of them were coached by Bob Coolen.
 
Hawai'i opens the 2019 season this coming Thursday with the Paradise Classic. The three-day tournament features former WAC rival Fresno State, Georgia State, St. Mary's, UT Arlington (who is coached by Hawai'i alum Peejay Brun) and No. 1/2 UCLA.


*The Alumnae Team's statistics in the box score are incorrect due to several substitutions and players not on roster playing.