LAS VEGAS, Nev.—The University of Hawai'i softball team (6-4) split their Saturday doubleheader. The Rainbow Wahine pulled away for a 14-6 in six innings over CSU Bakersfield in their opener, but was edged out by UNLV, 5-4 to end the day at Eller Media Stadium.
Hawai'i 14, CSU Bakersfield 6 (6 innings)
Hawai'i recorded its third-straight mercy-rule win with a 14-6, six inning win in a non-conference game against Big West rival, CSU Bakersfield. In the win, UH starter
Brianna Lopez improved to 4-1 overall. In the sixth, after intentionally walking
Maya Nakamura to load the bases,
Haley Johnson came through with a walk-off, two-run single that drove in Xiao Gin and
Ka'ena Keliinoi to end the game in six innings. It was the first time since 2012 that UH has won three-straight games by mercy-rule. That year, UH recorded five-straight mercy-rule wins with the first four coming in Las Vegas.
The Rainbow Wahine came right out of the shoot to score seven runs in the first inning. After the Rainbow Wahine loaded the bases with one out,
Izabella Martinez notched UH's first RBI with a single to easily plate Keliinoi from third. After a fielder's choice erased Nakamura at home, Johnson was able to score on a wild pitch. Rachel Sabourin followed with a walk to juice the bases again.
Cira Bartolotti chopped an infield single to short that allowed Martinez to cross the plate.
Maycen Gibbs continued the hit parade, rapping a single up the middle to drive in both Bethea and Sabourin. Hawai'i batted around the order as Gin drew a four-pitch walk which ended the appearance for CSUB starter Kirsten Martinez. Kaycie Kennedy entered the game in relief with the bases loaded and two outs. Things did not get better for the Roadrunners as Kennedy walked Keliinoi and then plunked Nakamura which resulted in Bartolotti and Gibbs scoring to extend UH's lead to 7-0. After one complete inning, UH had scored seven runs on four hits, five walks, and 1 hit batter.
In the top of the third, the Roadrunners rallied to post four runs. The inning started with a throwing error from third. CSUB then followed with four consecutive singles, the second hit was an RBI-hit by Shaylene Fuimaono that drove in Savanna Montoya. Karissa Munsey followed with an RBI-single that plated Maya Williams. A sacrifice fly to left pushed Reina Castillo across the plate and Natalya Rodrigues capped the scoring with an RBI hit that scored the 'Runners' fourth run of the game.
On defense, Hawai'i was able to get the first two outs of the fourth, but CSU Bakersfield was able to get two runners on board with a single and a walk. Castillo then drove in Williams with a single to center to trail UH by just two runs, 7-5.
The Rainbow Wahine rallied for three runs in the bottom of the fourth. UH loaded the bases with no outs to begin the frame. Bartolotti worked her way on with a full-count walk to drive in Martinez. Gibbs lifted a sacrifice fly to left to score Bethea from third and Keliinoi later smacked a double to left to drive in Bartolotti from second to pad UH's lead to 10-5.
Hawai'i pitcher Millie Fidge then entered the game in the fifth in relief of Lopez. CSUB promptly started the frame with a double and later an RBI-single to right by Martinez scored Ciara Jensen from second.
With a runner on first and one out in the fifth, the Rainbow Wahine got back-to-back doubles by Bethea and Sabourin. Sabourin's two-bagger drove in both pinch-runner Neri and Bethea to extend UH's lead to 12-6.
In the sixth, with two runners on, the Roadrunners decided to intentionally walk Nakamura to load the bases. Johnson stepped up to drill a walk-off double to the leftfield gap to score both Gin and Keliinoi to end the game in six innings.
Hawai'i starter Lopez improved to 4-1 throwing the first four complete innings. She allowed five runs on seven hits with four walks and three strikeouts. UH reliever Fidge tossed the final two innings allowing one run on three hits with a walk and a strikeout.
CSU Bakersfield starter Kirstien Martinez was unable to get out of the first inning, allowing seven runs on four hits with four walks in 2/3 of an inning. Kaycie Kennedy …threw the next 3-1/3 innings, allowing three runs on two hits with seven walks and a strikeout. Reina Castillo, who began the game as the DP moved to pitcher to start the fifth. She threw one complete inning, but allowed four runs on six hits with a walk and a strikeout.
UNLV 5, Hawai'i 4
The Rebels jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first after Ariana Martinez hit a three-run home run just over the right-centerfield fence.
Hawai'i answered right back in the top of the second.
Izabella Martinez and
Mya'Liah Bethea led off the inning with back-to-back singles and Rachel Sabourin then launched her third home run of the season over the rightfield fence to knot the score at 3-3.
The 'Bows loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the third, but UNLV reliever Jessie Fontes was able to get two flyouts and a groundout to first to snuff out the Rainbow rally.
In the bottom of the fourth, UNLV see-sawed back into the lead as April Visser beat out an infield hit to drive in Skyler Shaw to give the Rebels a 4-3 lead.
UNLV extended their lead to 5-3 on a solo home run by Denise Amerndariz in the fifth. Later a Rebel runner trying to score from second on a hit to left was gunned down at the plate on a good relay from leftfielder Keliinoi to third baseman Sabourin to catcher Johnson to end the inning.
The Rainbow Wahine tried to mount a rally in the seventh. Nakamura led off with a walk and Johnson drilled a double to the left-centerfield gap to score Nakamura from first to close to within a run of the Rebels. But UNLV's Fontes got three fly outs to end the game.
Hawai'i Millie Fidge suffered the loss in her first collegiate start after appearing in four games as a reliever. Fidge fired a complete gaem, allowing five runs on 10 hits with three walks and five strike outs.
UNLV's starting pitcher Sabrina Jolin gave up three runs on five hits in two innings. Reliever Fontes earned the win in relief, shutting down the UH offense over the final five innings. She allowed just one run late on two hits with five walks and three strikeouts.
Hawai'i will conclude the Desert Classic on Sunday morning with one final game against Montana at 7:30 a.m. HT.
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