RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Behind an offensive power surge and dominant complete-game pitching performances, the University of Hawai'i softball team (28-18, 20-6 Big West) swept a Friday doubleheader at UC Riverside, taking Game 1 by a score of 5-1 and Game 2 by a count of 6-1.
Junior
Jamie McGaughey was the main catalyst for the Rainbow Wahine offense throughout the day, going 6-for-8 with a double and three home runs across the two contests. Hawai'i won its eighth straight game and extended its conference win streak to 11. The 'Bows reached the 20-win mark in conference play for the first time since going 20-4 in 2013.
With Friday's wins, UH secured the No. 2 seed in next week's Big West Softball Championship in Fullerton, Calif. Regular-season champion Cal State Fullerton is the No. 1 seed with a 23-3 conference record. UH comes in at No. 2 with a Big West mark of 20-6 with one game left on Saturday. UC Santa Barbara (18-8), UC Davis (16-9) and Long Beach State (16-9) are battling it out for the 3, 4, and 5 seeds.
Game 1: Hawai'i 5, UC Riverside 1
The Highlanders took an early 1-0 lead with a solo shot from Jackie Alday in the bottom half of the second inning.
But Hawai'i tied and took the lead in the fourth inning when McGaughey and
Milan Ah Yat both launched solo home runs to centerfield.
The Rainbow Wahine blew the game open in the seventh inning when Millie Fidge crushed a three-run home run to left-center, scoring
Carys Murakami and McGaughey to seal the 5-1 victory.
UH starting pitcher
Taryn Irimata (12-7) earned her sixth straight win, scattering six hits over seven innings while striking out six and walking none.
UCR's Emory Cheng (5-14) kept the 'Bows at bay for much of the game. She allowed five runs on nine hits with three walks and three strikeouts in the loss.
Game 2: Hawaii 6, UC Riverside 1
The Rainbow Wahine offense wasted no time in the second game. In the first inning, McGaughey drove a two-run home run to center to give Hawai'i a 2-0 lead. She added a solo blast in the sixth for her second home run of the game and third of the afternoon. McGaughey finished the game a triple short of hitting for the cycle.
Fidge continued her productive day with a two-run home run in the fifth, scoring McGaughey who had singled earlier in the inning.
UH freshman starter Maryn MacNeil (2-1) took care of the rest in the circle. MacNeil threw a complete-game five-hitter, allowing just one run while inducing three double plays to stifle any Highlander rallies.
UC Riverside (6-37, 4-22 BW) managed their lone run in the fifth inning on an RBI single by Arianna Saldivar.
UCR threw three pitchers against UH in the second game. Starter Bree Barner took the loss, throwing the first three innings, allowing three runs on three hits with three walks and a pair of strikeouts. Lauren Mendez threw the fourth inning, giving up two runs on four hits and Alina Ortiz threw the final three innings, allowing a run on two hits with a walk and a strikeout.
Hawai'i and UC Riverside conclude the series in the regular-season finale on Saturday, May 2 at 9:00 a.m. Hawai'i Time at the Amy S. Harrison Softball Field in Riverside, Calif.
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