HONOLULU—The University of Hawai'i softball team (3-5) split its doubleheader on Day 2 of the Outrigger Hawai'i Invitational. Despite a strong pitching performance by Brianna Lopez, UH fell to Abilene Christian 2-0 in the first game. But the 'Bows bounced back to take down North Dakota, 3-1 in the nightcap on Friday at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. 
 
Abilene Christian 2, Hawai'i 0
Despite a solid complete-game effort by UH freshman Lopez, the Rainbow Wahine fell short to Abilene Christian, 2-0. Lopez struck out 11 Wildcats in the loss. It was the most strikeouts for a UH pitcher since Brittney Hitchcock had 13 against UC Davis on May 10, 2019. She allowed two unearned runs on eight hits with four walks. Unfortunately, the defense committed key errors and the offense never quite got on track.
 
Abilene Christian got a quick 1-0 lead. With Sadie Eichelberger on second, she advanced to third on a single that ricocheted off the pitcher but the throw to first from short sailed to the fence allowing Eichelberger to score on the error.
 
In the third, ACU extended their lead to 2-0 as Eichelberger advanced to third on a single and a fielding error in center off the bat of Sydney Kaiser.

UH second baseman's streak of reaching base 10-straight times (eight hits & two doubles) was snapped against ACU.
 
Riley White earned the win with a complete game as she spaced three hits with two walks and a strikeout.
 
Hawai'i 3, North Dakota 1
Hawai'i rebounded to notch a win over North Dakota scoring all three runs in the fourth. After going hitless in the first game, second baseman Maya Nakamura continued her hot-hitting, going 3-for-3 at the plate and driving in her team-leading ninth RBI of the season.

Freshman starter Chloe Borges earned her second-straight complete game win of the tournament. She was solid, allowing one run on six hits with a walk and three strikeouts.
 
Hawai'i broke the scoreless game in the fourth. With runners on first and second, Ka'ena Keliinoi laid down a perfect sac bunt but an errant throw by the catcher bounced past first into rightfield allowing Mya'Liah Bethea to score from second. Later, pinch runner Cira Bartolotti scored on a backwards wild pitch and Keliinoi scored off a single by Maya Nakamura to take a 3-0 lead.
 
In the seventh, North Dakota got one run back on a sacrifice line out by Chevelle Sartin that scored pinch runner Jagger Datan. But that would be what the Fighting Hawks ended with.
 
Morgan McConnell took the loss as she gave up three runs on six hits with two walks and a strikeout in 3-2/3 innings. Jackie Albrecht threw the final 2-1/3 innings allowing no runs with two hits, a walk and a strikeout.
 
With three teams—Abilene Christian, Hawai'i, and North Dakota—all tied with a 2-1 record, the seeding tie-breaker went to least runs scored against. All three teams gave up eight runs each. It went to the second tie-breaker, runs scored. North Dakota earned the #1 seed scoring 15 runs in the tourney. ACU was #2 with 11 runs and UH #3 with 10 runs scored. The schedule for the final day of the Outrigger Hawai'i Invitational is as follows:
 
10:00 am - #2 Abilene Christian vs. #3 Hawai'i
12:00 p.m. - #1 North Dakota vs. #4 Montana
2:00 p.m. – Loser Gm. 1 vs. Loser Gm. 2
4:00 p.m. – Championship game – Winner Gm1 vs. Winner Gm.2