HONOLULU—The University of Hawai'i softball team (3-3) dropped their two games on the final day of the 2023 Paradise Classic on Sunday. Although the Rainbow Wahine out hit their opponents in both games, the 'Bows came up short, falling to Utah Tech (3-2), 2-1 and then fell to St. Mary's, 5-1 on Sunday afternoon at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
 
Utah Tech 2, Hawai'i 1
Utah State's Lauren Almeida hit a two-run home run in the top of the third, and that was all the Trailblazers would need as they defeated UH, 2-0.
 
The Rainbow Wahine got on the scoreboard in the fifth on a solo shot to left-center by Mya'Liah Bethea. It was her third homer of the tournament and her fifth career home run.
 
Hawai'i starter Brianna Lopez suffered her first loss of the season, dropping her record to 2-1. She went the distance, allowing two runs on four hits with a walk and two strikeouts.
 
Utah Tech's Sauren Garton earned her second win with her second shutout of the tourney. Garton fired 7.0 innings giving up one run on five hits with a walk and two strikeouts.
 
 
St. Mary's-CA 5, Hawai'i 1
The Gaels scored one run on a wild pitch in the third.
 
St. Mary's then extended its lead to 5-0 after rallying for four runs in the fifth. With runners at second and third and no outs, Montelongo scored on a passed ball. Later, Ferguson hit an RBI single to drive in Cabral. The last two runs were scored on a pair of sacrifice bunts.
 
With two outs in the sixth, Haley Johnson drove a single up the middle that drove in Rachel Sabourin from third to break-up the shutout.
 
Hawai'i's Key-Annah Campbell-Pua who threw the first five innings. She allowed five runs on four hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Millie Fidge tossed two shut-out innings and did not allow any hits or walks while fanning a pair of Gaels.
 
The Gaels' Kailey O'Connor threw a complete game in the win to improve to 2-0. She gave up eight hits, one run with three strikeouts.
 
The Rainbow Wahine will now head to Las Vegas, Nev. to compete in UNLV's Desert Classic from Feb. 17-19, 2023 at Eller Media Stadium. UH will take on host UNLV twice, Montana twice, and CSU Bakersfield in a non-conference game.

Paradise Classic All-Tournament Team
Claudia Kirchner - St. Mary's
Hayley Johnson - Hawai'i
Kailey O'Connor - St. Mary's
LB Kahahawai-Kekona - Utah Tech
Hannah Ferguson - St. Mary's
Maya Nakamura - Hawai'i
Lauren Lockard - Utah Tech
Mya-Liah Bethea - Hawai'i
Rachel "Bueller" Sabourin - Hawai'i

Most Valuable Player - Tanya Windle - Utah Tech
Most Valuable Pitcher - Sauren Garton, Utah Tech