Wahine creep back, take series from Titans

Quick recoveries helped the University of Hawaii earn a split of Saturday’s Big West doubleheader against Cal State Fullerton, securing the series win in the process.

After the Titans powered past the Rainbow Wahine in the first game 7-2, UH broke away to a six-run lead in the finale at Anderson Family Field, only to see Cal State Fullerton send the game into extra innings with a three-run rally in the bottom of the seventh.

The Wahine weathered the wild momentum swing and responded with two runs in the top of the eighth inning and held on for an 8-6 series-clinching win.

After the Titans’ comeback, Leisha Li’ili’i and Sarina Jaramillo singled to lead off the eighth, and an errant throw on Lindsey Wilmon’s bunt allowed the go-ahead run to score. Rachel Lack followed with a run-scoring single to give the Wahine a two-run cushion and Kanani Aina Cabrales closed out a complete-game victory.

"That was huge," UH coach Bob Coolen said of UH’s answer in the eighth, "because standing in the third base coach’s box all I heard behind me from their dugout was, ‘Let’s not let them rally,’ after they had just rallied. 

"We started getting those hits, balls started going down and we had more bunts this weekend than I think in the last five years. … They weren’t playing us for the short game and it benefited us."

The Rainbow Wahine ended the day at 23-16 overall and 4-2 in the Big West, two games behind undefeated CSUN and a game ahead of Cal State Fullerton (25-15, 3-3), UC Riverside and Long Beach State.

UH returns to Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium on Friday to open a three-game series against Long Beach State. 

After Cal State Fullerton pulled away in the first game, UH bunched five hits in the top of the first, highlighted by Lindsey Willmon’s two-run double, and took a 5-0 lead. 

The lead grew to 6-0 in the third on Lack’s second home run of the series before Cal State Fullerton began its comeback.

Missy Taukeiaho delivered an RBI double in the bottom of the third and Shianne Brannan hit a two-run homer with two out in the fourth after a controversial obstruction call on UH first baseman Heather Morales extended the inning.

UH took a 6-3 lead into the seventh and Cal State Fullerton loaded the bases with one out. After Eliza Crawford’s sacrifice fly, Bryanna Ybarra and Samantha Galarza followed with singles to tie the game.

Aina Cabrales managed to get the third out to give the Wahine a chance in extra innings.

"She was overthrowing and they were just putting the ball where we weren’t," Coolen said. "So it was nice to come back in the eighth to take it."

UH entered the day with the edge in the series following a 5-1 win on Friday. The Wahine took a 1-0 lead in Saturday’s first game, but Cal State Fullerton took the lead in the bottom of the fourth on a two-run single by pinch hitter Lexi Gonzalez off of UH starter Brittany Hitchcock, ending UH’s string of innings without allowing an earned run at 312/3.

Courtney Rodrigues, who finished a single short of the cycle, broke the game open with a three-run homer in the fifth and Taukeiaho added a solo homer in the sixth. Six of Cal State Fullerton’s 11 hits went for extra bases.

Li’ili’i led off the top of the sixth with her seventh home run of the season and 45th of her career, breaking a tie with Kate Robinson for third on UH’s all-time list.

Brittany Hitchcock, Heather Morales (5) and Kayla Wartner. Jasmine Antunez and Kylie Padilla. W–Antunez. L–Hitchcock.

Leading hitters–Hawaii: Leisha Li’ili’i, HR; Sarina Jaramillo, 2-3. Cal State Fullerton: Missy Taukeiaho, HR; Courtney Rodriguez, 3-4, 2B, 3B, HR, 3 RBIs; Eliza Crawford, 2B; Lexi Gonzalez, 2 RBIs; Sarah Moore, 3-4, 2B, RBI.

Kanani Aina Cabrales and Kayla Wartner. Christina Washington, Cerissa Rivera (2) and Kylie Padilla. W–Aina Cabrales. L–Rivera.

Leading hitters–Hawaii: Leisha Li’ili’i, 2-4; Sarina Jaramillo, 2-4, RBI; Lindsey Willmon, 2B, 2 RBI; Rachel Lack, 2-4, HR, 2 RBIs. Cal State Fullerton: Samantha Vandiver, 3-5, 2B; Missy Taukeiaho, 2-5, 2B, RBI; Eliza Crawford, RBI; Bryanna Ybarra, RBI; Samantha Galarza, 2-4, RBI; Shianne Brannan HR, 2 RBIs