HONOLULU—The University of Hawai'i softball team (14-8) split their Saturday doubleheader to conclude the final day of the OUTRIGGER Invitational. Hawai'i pulled away to win 8-0 in six innings against Howard (6-12). UH then fell 8-3 to Washington (15-7) in the tournament finale on Saturday afternoon at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
Hawai'i 8, Howard 0 (6 innings)
Hawai'i starter
Macy Brandl fired her second shutout for the week, blanking Howard 8-0 in six innings. Brandl spaced three hits with a walk and two strikeouts to improve to 6-3 overall.
Hawai'i scored five runs all on two outs in the second inning. With runners at first and second,
Kennedy Thompson hit a grounder to second. A fielding error allowed Thompson to be safe at first and
Carys Murakami to score. On the same play, a throwing error on second baseman pushed both runners into scoring position. The catcher tried unsuccessfully to pick off
Ellyanna Cinzori at third as her throw bounced into leftfield which allowed Cinzori to score and Thompson to hustle into third.
Izabella Martinez followed drilling a single off the pitcher which pushed Thompson across the plate.
Liliana Thomas then looped a ball that the second baseman lost in the sun which allowed both Martinez and
Maycen Gibbs to score as UH led 5-0.
The 'Bows added two runs in the third on a sacrifice fly hit to center by
Chloe Borges that drove in
Carys Murakami. Later,
Ellyanna Cinzori, who had reached base earlier in the inning on a double to the left-center gap, scored on a wild pitch to extend UH's lead to 7-0.
Hawai'i put the game away in the sixth. Martinez drew a walk to lead off the sixth,
Larissa Goshi then hit back to the pitcher who tried unsuccessfully to get Martinez, the lead runner, at second. Thomas then hit a single to load the bases. After a pop out to second,
Milan Ah Yat laced a single to left-centerfield to drive in Martinez for the walk-off, 8-0 mercy rule win.
It marked Ah Yat's second walkoff hit of the season for UH. Against Utah Tech, Ah Yat blasted a two-run walk off home run in the eighth inning.
Howard's Jordan King took the loss, dropping her record to 1-1. She allowed five runs on five hits with two walks. Reliever Ameenah Ballenger allowed three runs on four this with three walks and a strikeout in the final 3-1/3 inning.
Washington 8, Hawai'i 3
The Huskies built a 5-0 lead though the first four innings, scoring two runs in the second, one in the third and another two runs in the fourth.
Washington's starter Morgan Reimer held UH at bay through the first five innings. She was blanking UH with 11 strikeouts until the sixth inning. Pinch-hitter Kayara Tuiloma led off the sixth inning with a single back to the pitcher.
Alyssa Nakagawa followed with a single to third. A wild pitch pushed both runners into scoring position. Tuiloma then scored on a
Jamie McGaughey ground out to first. Ah Yat followed by blasting a two-run home run to right field to drive in Nakagawa for UH's third run of the game.
Washington got the three runs back to go back up by 8-3 in the top of the seventh on a two-run homer by Gabi Toney and an RBI double by Jing Gardner.
UW reliever Stevie Hansen then entered the game en route to earning her first save of the season. She tossed the final 1.2 innings with a strikeout. Reimer earned the win throwing the first 5-1/3 innings. She allowed three runs on five hits with a walk and 11 Ks.
Hawaii's
Addison Kostrencich took the loss, allowing five runs on eight hits in 3-2/3 innings. She had two walks and no strikeouts. Reliever Millie Fidge threw the final 3-1/3 innings. She gave up three runs on four hits with four walks and a striketou.
The Rainbow Wahine remain at home to open their Big West season. UH will take on Long Beach State on Friday, March 8 at 6:00 p.m. HT. Saturday's doubleheader vs. The Beach starts at 2:00 p.m. HT. All games will be played at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
OUTRIGGER Invitational All-Tournament Team
Giselle Alvarez, Washington
Jadyn Glab, Washington
Ava Carroll, Washington
Carys Murakami, Hawai'i
Milan Ah Yat, Hawai'i
Jamie McGaughey, Hawai'i
Addison Kostrencich, Hawai'i
Lealani Ricks, Howard
Julia Holt, Howard
Ka'Liah Gibson, Jackson State
Most Valuable Player
Alexis DeBoer
Most Valuable Pitcher
Stevie Hansen
#HawaiiSB
