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After seeing its 12-game winning streak end on Friday, Utah bounced back by snapping the University of Hawaii softball team’s five-game run on Saturday.
Utah right-hander Katie Donovan held UH to one hit and struck out eight over five innings and the Utes pulled away to an 8-1 win at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
Utah took control with a three-run second inning and improved to 17-5 overall and 3-1 in the Outrigger Resorts Spring Fling Tournament.
UH fell to 14-9 and 2-1 in the tournament and faces Utah again at noon on Sunday in the first game of the doubleheader. UH closes the tournament against East Carolina, scheduled for 2 p.m.
“Hopefully we can flush this and we can go from there,” UH coach Bob Coolen said. “Tomorrow will be a good test for us since we’ve only played one game (per day in the tournament).”
Brittany Hitchcock, who earned a complete-game win against Oregon State on Friday is scheduled to get the start in the rematch with Utah with Kanani Aina Cabrales, who took the loss on Saturday, available in relief.
Utah, which fell to East Carolina 4-0 on Friday in its first loss since Feb.14, took the lead on Saturday on back-to-back doubles by Kate Dickman and Bridget Castro in the top of the first inning. Hannah Flippen added an RBI single in the top of the second and consecutive walks to load the bases ended Aina Cabrales’ start.
Heather Morales, who started the game at first base for UH, entered in relief and Kristen Stewart drove in two more runs with a single to center.
“Nani warmed up and was throwing heat and got on the mound and was so concerned about the umpire’s strike zone that she did not pitch well,” Coolen said. “After that she was aiming the ball and it never goes where you want it to when you’re aiming.”
Donovan worked around five walks while improving to 6-2. She was aided by double plays to end the first two innings.
UH erased a seven-run deficit in a win over Longwood on Thursday and appeared to have the makings of a rally in the fourth inning when Donovan walked the first two batters and both advanced into scoring position on a passed ball.
After a strikeout, Kayla Wartner tagged up on Ulu Matagiese’s lineout to left field to score from third. But Donovan’s sixth strikeout ended the threat and Utah pulled away again with a four-run outburst in the top of the fifth.
Four singles and two UH errors fueled the rally with Maddy Woodard, Flippen and Castro driving in runs.
Mariah Ramirez relieved Donovan in the sixth and held UH without a hit in two innings to close out the game.
| At Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium |
| Utah (17-5) |
130 |
040 |
0 |
— |
8 |
12 |
2 |
| Hawaii (14-9) |
000 |
100 |
0 |
— |
1 |
1 |
3 |
Katie Donovan, Mariah Ramirez (6) and Shelby Pacheco. Kanani Aina Cabrales, Heather Morales (2) and Kayla Wartner, Lindsey Willmon (5). W—Donovan. L—Aina Cabrales.
Leading hitters—Utah: Hannah Flippen, 2-5, 2 RBIs; Kate Dickman, 2-4, 2B; Bridget Castro, 2B, 2 RBIs; Kristen Stewart, 2 RBIs; Maddy Woodard, 2 RBIs. Hawaii: Ulu Matagiese, RBI.
Saturday
Longwood 3, East Carolina 0
Oregon State 8, East Carolina 5
Sunday
Utah vs. Hawaii, noon
East Carolina vs. Hawaii, 2 p.m.
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JAMM AQUINO