RIVERSIDE, Calif.—The University of Hawai'i softball team opened their three-game series with a 2-0 shut out in a pitchers' dual at UC Riverside on Friday afternoon. Hawai'i starting pitcher Brianna Lopez fired a two-hit, shutout, while Nawai Kaupe and Maya Nakamura propelled the offense to help Hawai'i even its record at 14-14 and improve to 8-5 in the Big West. The Highlanders fell to 15-20. 6-7 in the BWC at the Amy S. Harrison Field.
 
For UH's Lopez, it was a homecoming for the freshman pitcher who hails from Riverside, Calif.. Lopez improved to 8-6 overall and 5-3 in conference with her third complete game shutout of her rookie campaign. She had two walks and six strikeouts while facing just 25 batters.
 
Lopez was locked in the pitchers' dual with her UCR counterpart, Chrys Hildebrand, who also tossed a complete game. She took the loss to drop her record to 7-8. Hildebrand gave up two runs on four hits with two walks and 11 strikeouts.
 
In the first inning, Kaupe launched a solo shot over the leftfield fence to give UH an early 1-0 lead. For Kaupe, it marked her league-leading eighth homer of the season. It was the fifth time this season that Kaupe has cranked a home run in the first inning.
 
Maya Nakamura extended her hitting-streak to a career-high six straight games with an RBI single to left that drove in Brittnee Rossi, who raced around third to score from second. For Nakamura, it marked her team-best 20^th RBI of 2022.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, UCR's Max Ortega drew a leadoff walk and worked her way to third on a passed ball and wild pitch with no outs. UH's Lopez and the defense then got a ground out to short and a pair of pop ups to thwart the Highlanders' rally.
 
In the game, Hawai'i's Ka'ena Keliinoi extended her hitting-streak to seven, which is a career high for the utility player.
 
The two teams will end the three-game series with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 15. First pitch is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. HT.