HONOLULU—The University of Hawai'i softball team (18-15, 12-6 Big West) swept Saturday's doubleheader at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium to clinch their fifth Big West series of the season. Hawai'i won via the mercy rule in five innings in the first game, 10-1, then secured the series sweep with a 5-1 win in the second game. In the doubleheader, Nawai Kaupe led UH going 4-for-5 with two doubles and a home run and five RBI, while Ka'ena Keliinoi kept her 12-game hitting streak intact going 4-for-6 with a double and a home run. Both UH pitchers earned complete game wins in the double dip with Ashley Murphy picking up the "W" in the first game and Brianna Lopez notching her fourth-straight win in the series finale.
 
Game 1: Hawai'i 10, Cal State Bakersfield 1 (5 innings)
The Hawai'i offense racked up 10 runs on seven hits, five walks and five beaned batters. That would be more than enough for senior pitcher Ashley Murphy who evened her record at 3-3 overall with her second complete game of the season. She allowed one run on three hits with two walks and a strikeout in five innings of work. Murphy was able to induce 13 Roadrunner flyouts with just one groundout and a strikeout to account for CSUB's 15 outs in the five inning game.
 
The Rainbow Wahine came out of the gate on fire, scoring five runs in the first inning. Brittnee Rossi was plunked to start the frame and Nawai Kaupe followed with a shot that was about a foot away from going yard that ended up going for a double to drive in Rossi from first. Ka'ena Keliinoi kept things going with a single looped to center to put runners at the corners. After a pair of strikeouts, Izabella Martinez drove a single thru the right-side of the infield to score both Kaupe and Keliinoi who were on the run with two outs. Dallas Millwood then blasted a two-run home run to center to give UH the 5-0 lead. It was her fourth homer of the season and sixth of her UH career.
 
The Roadrunners got a run back in the third as Cydney Curran drove in her sister Cieana Curran from third with a base hit to left, trimming their deficit to 5-1.
 
Hawai'i added five runs in the third. Maya Nakamura led things off with a sharp single up the middle and Haley Johnson was hit by a pitch. Martinez then laid down a sacrifice bunt, but on the play, an errant throw pulled the first baseman off the bag which loaded the bases full of 'Bows. Millwood was then plunked to drive in Nakamura and Mya'Liah Bethea followed with a walk to score Johnson. Cal State Bakersfield starter  Martinez was then lifted for Kennedy. The Roadrunners then got a fielder's choice grounder to second who fired home to cut down Martinez. But Rossi promptly hit a single to right to allow Millwood to cross the plate. Kaupe drew a walk to keep things going and Keliinoi hit a sacrifice fly to center to drive in Gandia-Mak for a 10-1 lead after three complete innings.
 
In the fourth, UH loaded the bases with two outs on two walks and a hit batter. But a strikeout thwarted UH's rally.
 
Cal State Bakersfield's Martinez suffered the loss, dropping her record to 2-6. She threw two-plus innings allowing all 10 runs on six hits with a walk and two strikeouts. Kaycie Kennedy tossed the final two innings, allowing just one hit with four walks and a strikeout.
 
 
GAME 2: Hawai'i 5, Cal State Bakersfield 1
 
The Rainbow Wahine jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead to start the game on back-to-back home runs by Kaupe and Keliinoi. Rossi led off the home half of the first with a walk and Kaupe launched her team and league-leading ninth home run of the year. Keliinoi immediately followed with a solo shot to left-centerfield. It was the second time this season that UH hit back-to-back home runs (Kaupe and Nakamura vs. Cal Poly Apr. 9-GM2) and it marked Keliinoi's third home run of the season and fourth of her career.
 
The Roadrunners rallied in the third to score a run as Savanna Montoya reached on a throwing error by the shortstop which allowed Cieana Curran to race around to score from first. After two-and-a-half innings, UH led 3-1.
 
Hawai'i extended its lead to 5-1 in the sixth. UH started the frame off with three consecutive doubles by Rossi, Kaupe and Keliinoi which netted a pair of insurance runs going into the final inning.
 
UH starter Brianna Lopez earned her fourth-straight win, allowing one unearned run while scattering four hits with a walk and four strikeouts. She improved to 11-6 overall with her15th complete game of the season.
 
The Roadrunners' Reina Castillo suffered the loss, dropping her record to 2-16. She also tossed a complete game, allowing five runs on 11 hits with three walks and two strikeouts.
 
Hawai'i will now head to the mainland for their fifth road trip of the season to take on Long Beach State in a three-game Big West series. The opening game will be on Friday, April 29 at 10:00 a.m. HT followed by a doubleheader on Saturday, April 30 beginning at 10:00 a.m. HT.