CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif.—The University of Hawai'i softball team (1-8) dropped both ends of Sunday's doubleheader on the final day of the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic. Hawai'i fell to Illinois in the early game, 6-2 then dropped to 1-8 on the season with a 10-2 loss to fifth-ranked Tennessee in six innings, 10-2 at the Big League Dreams Complex in Cathedral City, Calif..
 
Illinois 6, Hawai'i 2
In the second the Rainbow Wahine struck first on a Mya'Liah Bethea solo home run lifted over the leftfield fence. It marked Bethea's team-leading third homer of the season and her ­­­17^th of the season.
 
Illinois immediately responded putting up four runs in the bottom of the frame. The Fighting Illini scored on four RBI-hits.
 
Hawai'i got a run back in the third. Xiao Gin reached on a single to left and Keliinoi then drove a double off the leftfield fence to put runners at second and third. Izabella Martinez followed with an RBI-groundout to second to score Gin from third. UH trailed 4-2.
 
Illinois tagged UH for another run in the bottom of the third. With runners at second and third, Adisyn Caryl lifted a sacrifice fly to right to score Abby Ryniec.
 
The Illini tacked on one last run in the sixth, scoring on a throwing error that allowed the runner to score from third after a fielder's choice.
Hawai'i starter Key-Annah Campbell-Pua dropped her record to _. She allowed five runs on seven hits with a strikeout in the first three innings. In the fourth, Chloe Borges came in relief and threw the final three innings. She allowed only one unearned run on a couple of hits with a walk and a strikeout.
 
Illinois' Tori McQueen got the start and allowed one run on two hits with a walk in the first two innings. Lauren Wiles earned the win (2-3) throwing the final five innings. She gave up a run on three hits with four strikeouts.
 
 
No. 5 Tennessee 10, Hawai'i 2 (6)
The Lady Vols scored one in the first inning on an RBI-single by McKenna Gibson to drive in Kiki Milloy then erupted for four runs in the second on a wild pitch followed by  a three-run home run by Rylie West.
 
Tennessee added three runs in the third on a solo home run by Zaida Puni and RBI singles from Bella Faw and Milloy for an 8-0 lead after three innings. 

With the Lady Vols threatening to end the game in five innings, Hawai'i's Borges drilled  a two-run bomb to left to drive in Maycen Gibbs. It was her first home run of the season and fourth career HR to cut into the UT lead, 8-2.
 
The Lady Vols scored twice to end the game in the sixth with a walk off play with the mercy rule in play. Tennesse's West crossed the plate on a Gibson RBI single and then scored the final run off a fielding error for the 10-2 win in six.
 
Hawai'i starter Addison Kostrencich suffered the loss dropping her record to 1-4. She gave up five runs on five hits with a walk in the first two innings. Millie Fidge tossed the final 3-2/3 innings, allowing five runs on five hits as well with a strikeout and three walks.
 
Tennesse's starter R White threw the first 2-1/3 innings, spacing three hits with a walk. C Orsini got the final two outs in the third threw the final 3-2/3 innings to earn the win. She allowed two runs on five hits with a strikeout.
 
Hawai'i returns home to host two consecutive tournament, starting with the Spring Fling Tournament from Thursday, Feb. 29 – Saturday, March 2. Tennessee State, Portland State, and Loyola Marymount will all be making their way to the Rainbow Wahine Softbal Stadium for the three day tourney.