HONOLULU—The University of Hawai'i softball team (13-7, 0-0 Big West) fell to Utah (16-4, 0-0 PAC-12) in the final game of the Hawai'i Spring Fling Tournament, 6-2 on Monday afternoon at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. The loss snapped UH's six-game win streak.
In the pitching circle, through the first four innings, it was a battle of Lopez's—with UH's
Brianna Lopez going against Utah's Mariah Lopez.
In the second inning, Hawai'i took a 1-0 lead as
Mya'Liah Bethea blasted a solo home run over the centerfield fence. It marked Bethea's team-leading seventh home run of the season and ninth of the junior's career. Hawai'i held the 1-0 lead until the fifth.
In the fifth, the Utes erupted for five runs on four hits while cashing in on an error, a walk and a hit batter. Utah's Bonstrom led off the sixth with a solo home run off of UH's
Key-annah Campbell-Pua.
Hawai'i got one run back when Bethea scored after a throwing error by the second baseman allowed her to score.
Hawai'i's Lopez (7-3) threw the first five innings, allowing five runs on five hits with two strikeouts and a walk. Campbell-Pua tossed the final two innings, allowing one home run with a strikeout.
Utah's Mariah Lopez (6-2) earned the win, throwing the first four innings, allowing one run on four hits with two walks and seven strikeouts. Sydney Sandez closed out the win, throwing the final three innings allowing one run on one hit with three strikeouts.
With the win, Utah--who went a perfect 5-0 this past week--won the 2023 Hawai'i Spring Fling Tournament.
Hawai'i will have two days off before they begin their final pre-season tournament. The Outrigger Rainbow Wahine Classic runs from Thursday, March 9 – Sunday, March 12. Competing in the tournament are Fordham, Iowa State, Niagara and host Hawai'i.
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