Box Score HONOLULU—The University of Hawai'i softball team (13-14, 7-5 Big West) lost in a hard fought, see-saw battle that saw five lead changes as Cal Poly held off Hawai'i, 8-7 on Saturday night at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. It is the first time the Mustangs have swept the Rainbow Wahine since 2014.
 
The Mustangs started the game with back-to-back singles and a walk to load the bases with no outs. UH starter Brianna Lopez then struck out the cleanup hitter and then started an inning-ending double play from Lopez to home (Izabella Martinez) to first (Dallas Millwood).
 
In the bottom of the first, Nawai Kaupe reached on a single to left, stole second and advanced to third on a fly out to right by Maya Nakamura. Designated player Haley Johnson then drew a walk to put runners at the corners. UH then executed a double steal as Johnson drew the throw to second and Kaupe crossed the plate with a nice slide to give UH its first lead of the series.
 
The Mustangs answered right back, posting a pair of runs to leapfrog over the 'Bows, 2-1. Kai Barrett hit s single to left to drive in Hailey Prahm and later with the bases loaded, Noella Ramos grounded out to short allowing Mia Perez to score the second run.
 
In the third, Nakamura drew a two-out walk and Johnson drilled an opposite field home run to see-saw back into the lead, 3-2. It was Johnson's second home run of the series and third of her rookie career.
 
The Mustangs responded in the top of the fourth, loading the bases for the third time of the game. Juju Sargent hit a bases-clearing triple to the right-centerfield gap to give Cal Poly a 5-3 lead.
 
In the fifth, Cal Poly loaded the bases on two outs with two-straight singles and a walk. Lopez then walked a run to extend the Mustangs' lead to 6-3 lead. Lopez was then relieved by Cira Bartolotti who made her second-straight relief appearance.
 
Brittnee Rossi reached on a fielding error on the right fielder to start the home half of the fifth. Ka'ena Keliinoi then roped a double to center. On the play, the centerfielder mis-fielded the ball allowing Rossi to round third and score. Kaupe then stepped to the plate and on the first pitch hit a bomb over the centerfield to tie the game at 6-6. Nakamura followed with a solo shot high over the centerfield fence to retake the lead, 7-6.
 
The Mustangs quickly reclaimed the lead in the sixth as Sargent scored on a wild pitch and Pram later scored on an RBI single by Barret as Cal Poly took the lead for good, 8-7.
 
The Rainbow Wahine now head off to UC Riverside for a three-game Big West series. The two teams open with a single game on Friday, April 15, 2022 at 12:00 p.m. HT, then conclude the three-game set with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 16 beginning at 10:00 a.m. HT.