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Brittany Hitchcock turned in a complete-game performance and the University of Hawaii softball team opened the Big West season with a 4-1 win over UC Davis today in Davis, Calif.
Hitchcock, a sophomore right-hander, gave up seven hits and struck out five and the Rainbow Wahine evened their overall record at 17-17.
The UH offense backed up Hitchcock with a four-run fourth inning highlighted by shortstop Breanna Ojala’s two-run single with two out.
The series concludes Saturday with a doubleheader starting at 10 a.m.
After three scoreless innings, UH broke through in the top of the fourth after Keiki Carlos led off the inning with a walk and Heather Morales doubled to center field. Rachel Lack followed with a single to drive in Carlos with the game’s first run and Rachael Turner’s sacrifice fly scored pinch-runner Sarah McAndrew from third.
With runners on second and third and two out, Ojala fell behind in the count before driving in both runners with a single into left field to give UH a 4-0 lead.
Hitchcock went 3 2/3 innings before giving up her first hit and stranded two runners on base in the fourth and fifth innings to take a shutout into the sixth inning.
UC Davis’ Taiya McInnes led off the bottom of the sixth with a single and advanced to third on a wild pitch and an error. She came in to score on Ashley Lotoszynski’s fielder’s choice, but Hitchcock got out of the inning with a popup and a strikeout.
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