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The University of Hawaii softball team finished off its stay in Las Vegas with a power surge in sweeping a doubleheader with five-inning shutouts against Seattle and Portland State on Sunday.
The Rainbow Wahine broke away early in both games, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first inning in an 8-0 win over Seattle. UH then jumped out to a five-run lead in the first on their way to an 11-0 rout of Portland State to close the Wilson/DeMarini Desert Classic.
UH finished 4-2 in the tournament and return to Honolulu at 7-4 overall.
UH senior Kayla Wartner homered in both games and the Wahine hit a total of five in the sweep at Stephanie Lynn Craig Softball Complex in Henderson, Nev.
Wartner ignited the UH offense with a solo homer in the first inning against Seattle and freshman Rachel Lack hit her first career home run in the third. Wahine shortstop Sarina Jaramillo went 2-for-3 and drove in three runs in support of Brittany Hitchcock, who held Seattle to five hits and a walk while improving to 3-2.
Wartner, who hit .550 in the tournament and drove in 10 runs, again opened the scoring against Portland State with an RBI double in the bottom of the first.
Leisha Li’ili’i launched a three-run homer in the second inning, her first of the season and 39th of her career. Tayana Mata hit her first career homer in the third inning and Wartner went deep again later in the inning to give UH an 11-0 lead.
Kanani Aina Cabrales surrendered just two hits, struck out four and walked none in her third shutout of the season.
UH returns to Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium on Friday to open the Bank of Hawaii Invitational. The Wahine will be joined in the three-day tournament by No. 15 Washington, Central Florida and UTEP.
