Softball Sweeps Doubleheader, Powers UC Santa Barbara to Win Series

HONOLULU The University of Hawaii softball team (19-10 2-1 BW) swept Saturday’s series-ending, doubleheader win to win its first Big West series of the season over UC Santa Barbara (14-10, 1-2 BW), 2-1. In the first game of the day, the Rainbow The Wahine came from behind to erase an early four-run deficit. He outscored the Gauchos 9-1 over the final three innings for a 9-5 victory that tied the series at 1-1. In the second game, Brianna Lopea and the ‘Bows shut out UCSB 5-0 to seal the sweep Saturday afternoon at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. The increase in UH’s offensive power was highlighted by a total of five home runs in two games.

DH Game 1: Hawai’i 9, UC Santa Barbara 5

Hawai’i came back from a four-run deficit to even the series with a 9-5 win over UCSB to open Saturday’s doubleheader. Seven of UH’s nine runs were fueled by home runs Clinical officeRachel “Bueller” Sabourin and Chloe Borges.

UH pitcher Key-Annah Campbell-Pua started and ended the game with a brief appearance by reliever Millie Fidge. Campbell-Pua gave up four runs on nine hits with two walks and four strikeouts in seven innings. Fidge was allowed a run on two hits and failed to record an out.

Hawai’i found itself quickly as UCSB started to fire, rallying for three runs on five hits to start the game.

In the bottom of the third, the Rainbow Wahine tried to rally by loading the bases with two outs, but a fly out to low left ended the rally.

In the next inning, Bella Fuentes led off the fourth inning with a single to left to extend the Gauchos’ lead to 4-0.

Hawai’i rallied with two outs, exploding for five runs in the bottom of the fourth to jump ahead, 5-4. With two outs and two runners on, Xiao Gin hit a looper to low center that went in and out of the center fielder’s glove, allowing for an error. Cira Bartolotti to score from third. Clinical office then tied the score with a three-run home run to center to tie the game at 4-4. It was Keliino’s third home game of the season and seventh of his career. UHs Isabella Martinez then drilled an RBI single up the middle to score Nakamura from the other end for a 5-4 lead.

B4- Kelinoi ties the game 4-4 w/3-run HOME RUN to center field! pic.twitter.com/aUWx4uHoxD

Hawaii Softball (@HawaiiSB) March 19, 2023

UH’s Fidge came on in the fifth, but Ashley Donaldson led off the inning with a solo home run to tie the score at 5-5. After another UCSB single, Campbell-Pua returned to the circle and threw the rest of the game.

UCSB reliever Ilona Sullivan got the final out in the fourth. But couldn’t get out of the fifth as the ‘Bows broke the tie with a two-run home run from Sullivan, prompting Gauchos starter Malaya Johnson to come back in and close the game. For UH, Rachel Sabourin blasted an opposite-field “Bueler Bomb” to drive in Bethea. It was her sixth home run of the year. When Bartolotti drew a walk, Chloe Borges hit a line drive home run over the left-center field fence for his second home run of the weekend and third of his career.

B5-Borges keeps things going B5. on the line 2-run HOME RUN!
UH 9, UCSB 5 pic.twitter.com/b42nE2QcVr

Hawaii Softball (@HawaiiSB) March 19, 2023

In the sixth, UCSB loaded the bases with one out, but Campbell-Pua got a full count, a strikeout and then an error to Bethea at first to prevent a Gaucho rally.

The Gauchos’ Johnson pitched 5-2/3 innings, allowing five runs on nine hits with four walks and two strikeouts. Sullivan gave up four runs on three hits with three walks and was able to record an out.

DH Game 2: Hawai’i 5, UC Santa Barbara 0

The series finale was a pitcher’s duel through the first five innings with UH Brianna Lopez and UCSB’s Camryn Snyder. Lopez fired a complete game, three-hit shutout to improve to 9-4 overall and 1-1 in conference play. He drew four walks but struck out seven, including three in his last four outings.

Offensively, UH’s increase in power continued until the series finale, when all four hits went on an extra Keliinoi double, a triple. Close Yamamoto and home wins by Martinez and Bartolotti.

In the third, with runners on first and second and two outs, UH’s Keliinoi ripped a double into the right-center field gap to drive in Bartolotti from second to give UH a 1-0 lead.

Bartolotti hit a solo home run to start the fifth, giving UH a 2-0 lead. It was his second home run of the season and the third of his career.

The Gauchos loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the sixth, but Lopez’s fifth strikeout of the game squelched the rally.

T6 Gauchos charge stands with two outputs. But Lopez’s Fifth Strike ends the rally!
UH 2, UCSB 0 pic.twitter.com/DU9L39wuOY

Hawaii Softball (@HawaiiSB) March 19, 2023

In the bottom of the sixth, UH extended the UH lead to 5-0 when Martinez hit a three-run home run to drive in both Nakamura and Borges. It was Martinez’s fourth home run of the season and career.

B6-Martinez launches a 3-run single to left center scoring Nakamura and Borges! Still no weirdos in B6.
UH 5, UCSB 0 pic.twitter.com/CsDfQs1XU6

Hawaii Softball (@HawaiiSB) March 19, 2023

UCSB’s Snyder allowed five runs on four hits over five extra innings. He had three walks and three strikeouts. Ava Bradford pitched the final inning.

Hawai’i now faces CSUN in a three-game Big West series. The series begins with a single game on Friday, March 24 at 12:00 PM HT, followed by a doubleheader on Saturday, March 25. First pitch for DH is at 10:00am HT.

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