Softball Splits Doubleheader at Long Beach State - University of Hawai'i at Manoa Athletics (2024)

LONG BEACH, Calif.—The University of Hawai'i softball team (19-21, 12-7 Big West) split Saturday's doubleheader at Long Beach State. Hawai'i shutout The Beach 8-0 in the first game to knot the series at 1-1. But The Beach held off Hawai'i in the finale, 3-1 to clinch the series 2-1 at the LBSU Softball Complex.

The game was deadlocked at 0-0 through the first five innings with both sides unable to push a run across. But the Rainbow Wahine broke through in the sixth, rallying for six runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh—all on two outs.

UH starter Key-Annah Campebell-Pua was an escape artist, seemingly dodging bullets from the Long Beach State offense. She recorded her first shutout of the season, spacing 11 hits with a walk and no strike outs to improve to 5-7 overall and 5-2 in conference.

The Beach had two runners on base in each of the first four innings and in six of seven innings. In the bottom of the third, LBSU had runners at the corners and no outs. Campbell-Pua snagged a high-chopper that was headed towards center. Campbell-Pua alertly then back-doored the runner at third straying off the bag for the first out. With two outs and runners at first and second, Cierra Yamamoto came racing in and made a diving catch to end the inning and prevent runs from scoring.

The score remained knotted at 0-0 until UH rallied on two outs in the sixth for six runs, brining 11 batters to the plate. Chloe Borges led the frame off with a single to right and UH loaded the bases on a fielder's choice throwing error and a walk. After a fielder's choice to the catcher erased the lead runner for the second out, Madixx Muramoto drew a bases loaded walk to score pinch-runner Larissa Goshi. Yamamoto followed by pulling a single to right to score both Mya'Liah Bethea and and Ka'ena Keliinoi. Later with bases loaded, Izabella Martinex hit a grounder to short, but the flip to second went off the second baseman which allowed both Muramoto and Yamamoto to score on the error. UH's Borges was plunked in her second plate appearance in the inning to load the bases. Millwood worked a full-count walk to score Gin to cap the scoring for the 'Bows for a 6-0 lead.

Bethea drew a walk to start the seventh and Keliinoi stroke a single to left to put runners at first and second. After two outs, Bethea scored on a wild pitch and then Gin drove in Keliinoi with a single up the middle to extend UH's lead to 8-0.

UH's rightfielder Cierra Yamamoto solidon defense, making eight catches in rightfield—including a diving catch to end the third inning to prevent any runs from scoring.

LBSU's Kate Barnette threw the five-and-two-thirds innings, allowing six runs on five hits with five walks and four strikeouts. Mo Quinlan gave up two runs in the final inning and a third with two walks and a strikeout.

UH's shut out over The Beach was its first since 4/11/15 when UH downed LBSU 3-0 in Honolulu. The last time UH shutout LBSU on the road was 3/23/94 when UH swept a doubleheader 3-0 and 1-0


Long Beach State 3, Hawai'i 1
The Beach struck first, posting one run on a ground out to short by Durazo that drove in Medellin from third for a 1-0 lead.

UH answered right back as Keliinoi lifted a sacrifice fly to the leftfield corner that scored Johnson from third to even the score at 1-1

In the fifth, LBSU's Sinclair Lawhord smacked a 2-rbi double to end Addison Kostrencich's outing. Millie Fidge then entered the game with a runner at second and one out. Fidge got a groundout to third and a pop-out to short to squelch the rally. Fidge ended her stint with the first UH strikeout of the doubleheader.

UH's Kostrencich took the loss, dropping her record to 11-8 overall. She threw the first four-and-a-third innings, allowing three runs on six hits with a walk. Fidge allowed just one hit in the final inning-and-two-thirds.

Long Beach State's Sophia Fernandez earned the complete game win allowing one run on six hits with four strikeouts. She improved to 12-11 overall.

Hawai'i returns home to host Cal State Fullerton in its final home series of the season. The Rainbow Wahineand Titans will square off in a single game on Friday, May 3rd at 6:00 p.m. HT. UH will then celebrate Senior Day on Saturday, May 4th with a doubleheader beginning at 2:00 p.m. HT. UH will honor its nine seniors--Chloe Agueda, Mya'Liah Bethea, Xiao Gin, Haley Johnson, Ka'ena Keliinoi, McKenna Kostyszyn, Dallas Millwood, Maya Nakamura, and Piper Neri.

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