CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif..—The University of Hawai'i softball team (5-6) dropped both ends of their Thursday doubleheader to open the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic. UH first fell to BYU, 8-0 in six innings. But the 'Bows battled back back against 20th-ranked Duke in the second game, which was highlighted by a Jamie McGaughey grand slam. UH's rally fell short as the Blue Devils recorded the 9-6 win at the Big League Field of Dreams Sports Park in Cathedral City, Calif.
 
Game 1: BYU 8, Hawai'i – (6 Innings)
Hawai'i was able to get runners on in all but one inning, but were unable manufacture any runs against the Cougars. BYU scored in bunches to record the mercy-rule win over UH, 8-0.
 
Although UH starter Taryn Irimata got a pair of strikeouts in the top of the first, BYU's Hailey Morrow hit a solo home run to centerfield for an early 1-0 lead.
 
In the second, the Cougars extended their lead to 4-0 after loading the bases with one out and then cashed in with one run coming in on an unsuccessful fielder's choice attempt. Morrow struck again with a two-RBI single to leftfield.
 
BYU tacked on two more runs in the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Lily Owens that scored Lexi Bennett. Ilovea Brittingham hit a solo home run to leftfield. Hawai'i reliever Millie iFidge then entered the game for starter Irimata and proceeded to strikeout the first batter she faced to end the inning.
 
But the 'Bows allowed two runs in the sixth to seal the mercy-rule win.
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Irimata suffered the loss, dropping her record to 2-4 overall. She allowed six runs on six hits with three walks and five strikeouts in 3.2 innings. Fidge threw the final 2.1 innings giving up two runs on a hit with a walk and five strikeouts.
 
The Cougars' Gianna Mares fired a complete game shutout to improve to 2-1. She blanked the 'Bows scattering four hits with three walks and 12 strikeouts.
 
With the win, the Cougars snapped a seven game losing streak, while for Hawai'i it marked their third loss via shutout in a row.
 
No. 20 Duke 9, Hawai'i 6
UH starting pitcher Hannah Pitts kept the Blue Devils in check for the first four innings, holding Duke to just two runs.
 
For UH, freshman Bailey Nagasako made her first collegiate start and went 3-for-4 at the plate.  In the fourth inning, she reached on a one out single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Larissa Goshi, then scored on a wild pitch from second as the ball sailed over the catcher and ricocheted off the backstop poll away from the defense which allowied Nagasako to snap UH's 21-scoreless innings streak.
 
But the Blue Devils responded by tallying six runs in the fifth to take an 8-1 led.
 
Hawai, however did not give up. Trailing 8-1 with one out in the fifth and trying to avoid its third consecutive run rule loss, UH loaded the bases with one out when Jamie McGaughe blasted her first career grand slam, driving in Rhea Furtado, Milan Ah Yat, and Maycen Gibbs to cut their deficit to 8-5. It was McGaughey's second homer of the season.
 
Hawai'i added another run in the sixth on an RBI-single by Gibbs that drove in Teiah Keliiholokai to trim Duke's lead to two runs.
 
Duke got one run back on back-to-back doubles in the top of the seventh to take a three run led, 9-6.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, UH's first two batters reached on singles by Kolbi Kochi and pinch hitter Fidge, but they were left stranded as Duke was ab;e to retired the last three batters to end the game.
 
Hawai'i's Pitts fell to 1-2 ovral, throwing the first 4.1 innings. She allowed seven runs on 11 hits with one strikeout. Macy Brandl tossed the final 2.2 innings, giving up two runs on five hits.
 
Duke's starter Ava Bradshaw earned the win, throwing 4.2 innings, allowing five runs on six hits with four walks and five strikeouts. Reliever Larissa Jacquez earned the save, throwing 2.1 innings, giving up a run on six hits with two strikouts.
 
Quick turnaround for the 'Bows as they play another doubleheader on Friday morning. UH will face 10^th-ranked Nebraska first at 10:30 a.m. HT followed by Oregon State at 3:30 p.m. HT at the Filed of Dreams Sports Park in Cathedral City, Calif..