NORTHRIDGE, Calif.—The University of Hawai'i softball team (20-12, 3-3 Big West) was swept at CSUN to lose the series, 2-1. The Matadors won the first game, 8-5 then won the series finale in five, 11-1 on Saturday afternoon at the Matador Diamond in Northridge, Calif.
 
CSUN 8, Hawai'i 5
Hawai'i rallied on two outs in the top of the first. Both Maya Nakamura and Haley Johnson reached on singles and Izabella Martinez then drilled a single to left-centerfield to score Nakamura from second. On the play, a fielding error on the centerfielder to allow Johnson to score as well for an early 2-0 lead.
 
The Matadors answered right back in the bottom of the first. CSUN's first two batters drew walks and Kaylee Escutia then cleared the bases with a three-run home run. After a double, UH starter Key-Annah Campbell-Pua was lifted as reliever Millie Fidge entered with a runner at second and no outs. Later with one out and runners at the corners, a throwing error on a double-steal attempt allowed both Kylie Galindo and Shaylan Whatman to score to extend CSUN's lead to 5-2.
 
In the second, CSUN threatened to score after putting two runners on with one out, but a fielder's choice from Ka'ena Keliinoi at third to catcher Martinez erased a runner from trying to score from third. Fidge then got a strike out looking to thwart the Matador rally.
 
For CSUN In the fourth, a bases loaded walk forced a run home and a sacrifice fly lifted to centerfield scored Mikayla Carman. An RBI single by Gizella Vargas-Sando drove in Escutia to balloon the Matadors' lead to 8-2. Fidge was then lifted for McKenna Kostyszyn who walked the first batter faced, but induced a grounder to second for the final out.
 
Hawai'i got one run back in the fifth on a Keliinoi solo home run in the fifth. It was her fourth homer of the season and eighth for the junior utility player.
 
In the sixth, UH trimmed their deficit to three. After loading the bases on two outs with three walks, Xiao Gin ripped a double to right-centerfield to drive in both Mya'Liah Bethea and Rachel Sabourin.
 
UH starter Key-Annah Campbell-Pua had her shortest appearance as she was unable to record an out in the first inning. Campbell-Pua (8-4) allowed four runs on two hits with two walks. In 3-2/3 innings, Fidge allowed four runs on five hits with two walks and four strikeouts. McKenna Kostyszyn did not allow a hit or a run in the final 2-1/3 innings with two walks.
 
CSUN's Alexis Martinez (4-5) earned the win throwing 4-2/3 innings allowing three runs on five hits with two walks. Allie Gardiner gave up two runs on one hit with four walks and a strikeout in 2-1/3-innings of work.
 
CSUN 11, Hawai'i 1 (5 innings)
The Matadors began the game by scoring nine runs on five hits and four Hawai'i errors.
 
CSUN added two runs on an RBI-double and an RBI groundout to extend their lead to 11-0 in the fourth.
 
Hawai'i's Piper Neri led off the fifth with her first career hit. After a groundout, a pair of walks  loaded the bases with one out. Nakamura reached on a fielder's choice that scored Neri from third.
 
UH's Brianna Lopez (10-5) was able to record just one out in the first before being relieved by Chloe Borges. Lopez allowed nine runs on three hits with a walk. Borges threw the final 3-2/3 innings, giving up two runs on four hits with a walk.
 
CSUN's Lauryn Carranco (1-4) earned the win, giving up one run on four hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Riley Wickum got the final two outs of the five inning game.
 
The Rainbow Wahine return home to host a three-game conference series against UC Davis. The weekend starts with a single game on Saturday, March 31 at 6:00 p.m. HT followed by a Saturday doubleheader beginning at 12:00 p.m. HT.