ISLA VISTA, Calif.—The University of Hawai'i softball team (8-9, 2-0 Big West) came out to start the conference season with guns blazing. The Rainbow Wahine swept their Big West opening doubleheader at UC Santa Barbara (8-19, 0-2 Big West), 13-2 in five innings and 4-3 in the second game. Hawai'i pitcher Brianna Lopez appeared in both games to earn the complete game win in the first game and her first career save in the second. UH's offense was led by Ka'ena Keliinoi who went a combined 3-for-6 at the plate with two doubles, a grand slam, and seven RBI.
 
Game 1: Hawai'i 13, UC Santa Barbara 2 (5 innings)
The Rainbow Wahine recorded a 13-2, five inning win at UC Santa Barbara to open their Big West season. It is UH's first five inning, mercy-rule win since defeating Northern Colorado on Feb. 8, 2020 and its first road conference mercy rule win since defeating Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, 12-0 on April 6, 2019. Hawai'i starter Brianna Lopez flirted with a no-hit shut out going into the final frame, while Ka'ena Keliinoi went 2-for-3 with a double and a grand slam with a career-high seven RBI. It was her first multiple-RBI game of the year and fourth of her career.
 
Lopez improved to 4-3 overall with a five-inning complete game effort. She took a no hitter and a shut-out into the fifth. She allowed two runs on two hits with five walks and five strikeouts.
 
The Rainbow Wahine burst out of the gate to score seven runs to start the game with a bang. Brittnee Ross drew a leadoff walk and Nawai Kaupe was then hit by a pitch. With a double steal, both runners moved into scoring position for Izabella Martinez, who knocked in the first run with an RBI-single to first. Maya Nakamura then laced a single up the middle to drive in pinch runner Piper Neri. UCSB went to the bullpen to bring in Lexi Mills to relieve Camryn Snyder. After a walk, Mya'Liah Bethea drilled a single up the middle to drive in both Martinez and Nakamura. After another walk, Ka'ena Keliinoi lifted a double to the right-centerfield gap to score Chloe Borges and Bethea. Later, after batting around the order, with the bases loaded, Martinez was plunked to score Cira Bartolotti from third to give UH a 7-0 lead. It marked the first time UH has scored at least seven runs in the first since scoring nine against Northern Colorado on Feb. 6, 2020. It the first time scoring seven in a Big West game since posting seven against Cal Poly on April 7, 2018. And it's the first time accomplishing the feat in a road conference game since scoring eight at Utah State on April 28, 2007 while still a member of the WAC.
 
Borges was walked to start the second inning. Bethea followed with a double to right. Pinch runner Kaeli Bush then scored on a wild pitch. After a walk and a HBP, Keliinoi launched her first career grand slam. It was Keliinoi's second career home run and the first grand slam for UH since Dallas Millwood's last season against Long Beach State on May 23, 2021. After two innings, UH led 12-0
 
Hawai'i added one more run in the fifth on a solo home run to right-centerfield by Nakamura. It was her first homer of the season and fifth of her career.
 
The Gauchos broke up Lopez's no-hit bid to start the fifth inning as Korie Thomas looped a soft single to the 5-6 hole. Later with two runners on, Macy Fines hit a triple to center to score both of UCSB's runs.
 
UCSB starter Camron Snyder (6-8) suffered the loss, giving up four runs on two hits with a walk. She did not record an out in the first. Lexi Mills then threw one-plus innings allowing six runs on three hits with five walks. Ava Bradford was unable to record an out in the second inning, allowing two runs on one hit with a walk. Ilona Sullivan closed the game, tossing the final four-plus innings. She shut down UH, allowing just one hit—Nakamura's home run. She had one walk but struck out seven UH hitters.

The 13 runs scored by Hawai'i was the most since a 16-12 win over Fordham on Feb. 15, 2019. It was also the most runs in a conference game since defeating UC Davis 13-1 on May 8, 2015 and the most runs scored in a road conference game since defeating Cal State Fullerton, 14-2 on April 13, 2013.
 
GAME 2: Hawai'i 4, UC Santa Barbara 3
The second game of the doubleheader was a much closer affair. UCSB out-hit UH in the loss (10-8) while leaving seven runners on base, while UH left eight on base for the game.
 
Hawai'i's starting pitcher, Borges (4-4, 1-0 BWC), earned the win to even her record at 4-4 on the season. She threw four-plus innings allowing three runs on nine hits with no walks and a strikeout. Lopez (3-3, 1-0 BWC, 1 SV), who came in relief in the fifth, retired the first six batters she faced and end faced 10 batters. She earned her first career save as she fired three shut-out innings, allowing one hit with no walks and three strikeouts.  
 
The Gauchos took an early 1-0 lead, capitalizing on a couple of UH infield errors in the second inning.
 
Hawai'i was held off the scoreboard until erupting for four runs in the fourth. Bethea led the inning off with a single through the left-side of the infield. Dallas Millwood, in her first start as designated player this year, followed with a double ripped down the first base line. Mikaela Gandia-Mak drove in UH's first run on a single to short allowing Bethea to score from third. Pinch-hitter Haley Johnson then launched her first career home run to score pinch-runner Piper Neri. Johnson's homer sailed over the right-centerfield fence to give UH a 4-1 lead.
 
UCSB got one run right back in the fourth on a sacrifice fly to center hit by Chloe Stewart that scored Teah Thies, cutting their deficit to 4-2
 
After retiring the 'Bows in order in the fifth, UCSB's Madelyn McNally led off the home half with a single to left. She proceeded to steal second and scored on an RBI-double by Ashley Donaldson. Borges then exited the game and Lopez came in for her second appearance of the day. Lopez responded by getting a pair of strikeouts and a ground out to short to end the inning with UH preserving their 4-3 lead. Lopez would go on to get six of the next seven batters out to hold off UCSB for the sweep. 
 
Gaucho starter Alyssa Molina (2-7, 0-1 BWC) took the loss, throwing the first three-and-a-third innings. She allowing four runs on four hits with three walks and two strikeouts. Reliever Sullivan made her second appearance of the day. She again handcuffed the 'Bows, tossing three-and-two-thirds innings of shut out ball. She did not allow a run while spacing four hits with no walks and three strikeouts.

Hawai'i and UC Santa Barbara will face off in the series finale on Sunday, March 20 at 10:00 am HT at Campus Diamond in Isla Vista, Calif.