Wahine bounce back in doubleheader to win series over Cal Poly

After the University of Hawaii softball team saw the first game of a Big West doubleheader at Cal Poly slip away in the late innings on Saturday, freshman Brittany Hitchcock helped the Rainbow Wahine secure the series win with a complete-game performance in the finale.

Cal Poly broke open a five-inning pitchers duel with a six-run rally in the sixth and evened the series with an 8-1 win in Saturday’s first game at Bob Janssen Field in San Luis Obispo, Calif.

Hitchcock then held the Mustangs to four hits in UH’s 4-1 win in the deciding game of the series and the Wahine closed the weekend at 26-19 overall and 7-5 in Big West play.

"Brittany came up large," UH coach Bob Coolen said. "She did a real good job of holding them down, keeping them off balance, in and out, off speed."

The split left the Wahine in a virtual tie for second place with Long Beach State (6-4), 41/2 games behind Big West leader CSUN (11-0), which swept a doubleheader at UC Riverside on Saturday.

UH returns to Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium on Friday to open a series against UC Santa Barbara.

Hitchcock (13-6) struck out two and walked one in her second win of the series and the UH offense pieced together two-run rallies in the second and third innings to clinch its second road series of the Big West schedule.

UH jumped ahead on Ulu Matagiese’s RBI single and Keiki Carlos’ sacrifice fly in the second inning. 

Cal Poly scored a single run in the bottom of the inning and the Wahine answered with two more runs in the third, with Lindsey Willmon and Kayla Wartner driving in runs with UH’s third and fourth singles of the inning.

"We were moving runners over and we were doing the little things right," Coolen said.

In Saturday’s first game, Cal Poly opened the scoring on Betsy Colburn’s sacrifice fly in the bottom of the second and UH tied the game in the third when Carlos scored on a double steal.

The Mustangs edged ahead again on Colburn’s RBI single in the fourth and they broke away in the sixth with three doubles in the inning. Breana West delivered a two-run double, Colburn drove in her third run of the game with a double to right and Chelsea Convissar capped the scoring with a bases-clearing double to right-center.

The outburst secured a win for Cal Poly starter Sierra Hyland, while Kanani Aina Cabrales took the loss.

Kanani Aina Cabrales and Kayla Wartner. Sierra Hyland and Susanne Morris. W–Hyland. L–Aina Cabrales.

Leading hitters–Hawaii: Keiki Carlos, 2B, SB ; Lindsey Willmon, 2-3, 2B. Cal Poly: Emiy Cecacci, 2-4,; Chelsea Convissar, 2B, 3 RBIs; Hyland, 2B; Stephanie Heyward, 2-2, 3 runs; Breana West, 2B, 2 RBIs; Betsy Colburn, 2-2, 3 RBIs.

Brittany Hitchcock and Kayla Wartner. Lindsey Chalmers, Sierra Hyland (4) and Taylor Yzaguirre. W–Hitchcock. L–Chalmers.

Leading hitters–Hawaii: Keiki Carlos, RBI; Heather Morales, 2-4; Lindsey Willmon, 2-3, RBI; Sarina Jaramillo, 2-2; Kayla Wartner, 2-3, RBI; Ulu Matagiese, RBI. Cal Poly: Chelsea Convissar, 2-3; Breana West, RBI.