FULLERTON, Calif.—The fifth-seeded University of Hawai'i softball team (32-18) opened the inaugural Big West Championship with an upset win over fourth-seeded Long Beach State, 10-8 on Wednesday at the Anderson Family Field in Fullerton, Calif.
The Rainbow Wahine offense scored multiple runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings with the bottom of the lineup getting on and the top of the lineup driving them home. Seven of UH's 10 runs were results of two out rallies.
Hawai'i pitcher
Macy Brandl earned the win in relief to improve to 17-7 overall. She allowed four runs on four hits in 4-2/3 innings pitched with a walk and a strikeout.
The Beach (27-21) scored first. Jacquelyn Bickar led off the first with a triple off the centerfield fence. She scored on a hard hit ball back to UH starter
Addison Kostrencich in the circle by Carly Robbins for the quick 1-0 lead.
In the third, Hawai'i posted three runs to overtake The Beach.
Chloe Borges blasted a two-run home run home run over the left-centerfield fence that drove in
Cierra Yamamoto who reached on an earlier error. It marked Borges' sixth home run of the season and 17
th of the senior's four year career. Later with one out,
Izabella Martinez hit a line shot over the right-centerfield fence for her third homer of the season and 12
th of her career to give UH a 3-1 lead.
In the bottom of the third, the Beach answered right back, tying the game at 3-3 on a two-RBI-double by Makeila Medillin. Later pinch-runner Sophia Stein scored the go-ahead run off a wild pitch to re-take the lead at 4-3.
UH rallied on two outs in the fourth. UH's Yamamoto and Borges both drew two-out walks. Larissa Gosh then slapped an opposite-field hit to left to load the bases for the top of the order. Martinez roped an opposite-field single to the left-centerfield fence to drive in both Yamamoto and Borges.
Carys Murakami followed by drilling a single up the middle to drive in both Goshi and pinch runner
Maya Ichimura to extend UH's lead to 7-4.
Hawai'i added three runs in the top of the fifth increase its lead to 10-4. With runners at first and second and two outs,
Chloe Borges hit a chopper to first that no one fielded for a single and Thomas raced around third to slide in safely at home. Both Martinez and Murakami followed with RBI-singles to drive in Yamamoto and Borges respectively to build UH's lead to 10-4.
The Beach's Pricilla Iniguez and Carly Robbins both smacked two-run home runs in the fifth and sixth innings to trim their deficit to just two runs, 10-8.
But Brandl and the 'Bows would retire The Beach in order to end the game.
Hawai'i senior Kostrencich got the start but did not figure in the decision after giving up four runs on six hits in 2-1/3 innings.
Long Beach State went through three pitchers in the game. Eryka Gonzales tossed the first 3.2 innings, allowing seven runs on five hits with two walks and three stikeouts. Reliever Shannon Haddad threw one complete inning, allowing three runs on two hits wih a walk and a strikeout. Kate Barnett closed the game, tossing the final 2.1 innings. She held UH scoreless while spacing four hits with a strikeout.
For the game, UH's Martinez went 4-for-5 to tie her career-high in hits in a game. She drove in a season-best four RBI with a home run. Murakami went 2-for-5 with three RBI. Borges went 2-for-3 with a two run homer and an RBI single. Goshi went 2-for-4 with a run scored.
With the win, the Rainbow Wahine advance to face off against top-seeded and host Cal State Fullerton (37-15) on Day 2 of the inaugural Big West Championship at the Anderson Family Field in Fullerton, Calif.. The two teams will square off at 10:00 a.m. HT.
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