UH loses last 2 games of season

The opportunity for a rousing conclusion to a bumpy season was there for the University of Hawaii softball team.

But as happened for much of the spring, the decisive hits belonged to the team in the opposite dugout.

Long Beach State put together sixth-inning rallies twice on Saturday and the Rainbow Wahine dropped both games of their season-ending doubleheader.

In the first game at LBSU Softball Complex, Irma Sanchez, who entered the game as a defensive substitute in the top of the sixth, lined a tie-breaking two-run single into right field in the bottom of the inning in the 49ers’ 4-2 win.

LBSU’s Tierra Falo singled home the lone run in the series finale, again in the sixth, and LBSU right-hander Christina Clermont earned her second complete-game win of the day in a 1-0 victory to close the regular season.

“We didn’t make adjustments like we did yesterday and we just didn’t get the timely hit today,” UH coach Bob Coolen said, referencing UH’s 3-2 win in the series opener on Friday. “They did and we didn’t.”

UH right-hander Brittany Hitchcock struck out one, walked three and gave up seven hits in the first game and closed her sophomore season at 13-15. Clermont struck out five and overcame six hits, two walks and four hit batters to earn the win.

Freshman Sarah Muzik drove in both of UH’s runs, including a game-tying RBI single in the top of the sixth.

Kanani Aina Cabrales (8-11) got the start for UH in the final game and retired the first 10 batters she faced. She held the 49ers to one hit through five innings but pinch-hitter Mattie Scheele drew a leadoff walk in the sixth and LBSU followed with three consecutive singles to score the winning run.

UH left 10 runners on base in the opener, seven more in the finale and Clermont, who pitched all 21 innings in the series, held UH to three hits in Saturday’s second game.

After the game, the Wahine prepared to disperse for the summer following a 24-30 season. UH had won four of its last five games heading into Saturday’s doubleheader and tied for sixth in the Big West at 8-13.

“Hopefully we learned a little bit about ourselves last weekend and this weekend and just needed to compete a little better,” Coolen said.

Saturday’s games were the final appearances for senior starters Keiki Carlos, Tayana Mata and Dori Ann Sugai. Sarah McAndrew and Kiani Wong also got into the second game off the bench.

Coolen said sophomore catcher Rachel Lack also will leave the program to return to Australia, where she is a member of the national team. Lack hit .215 this season, led the Wahine with six home runs and tied freshman Nicole Lopez for the RBI lead with 23. Lopez closed the season as UH’s leading hitter at .287.

Long Beach State (32-20, 12-9 Big West) finished third in the Big West behind conference champion Cal State Fullerton and Cal State Northridge and will await today’s NCAA selection show to see if the series win was enough earn an at-large berth.

BIG WEST SOFTBALL

Saturday

Long Beach State 4, Hawaii 2

Long Beach State 1, Hawaii 0

Cal Poly 1, UC Riverside 0, 10 innings

CSUN 4, UC Davis 3

UC Santa Barbara 4, Cal State Fullerton 3

Cal State Fullerton 7, UC Santa Barbara 1

End of regular season

Brittany Hitchcock and Heather Cameron, Rachel Lack (6). Christina Clermont and MacLeod, Irma Sanchez (6). W–Clermont. L–Hitchcock.

Leading hitters–Hawaii: Sarah Muzik, 2 RBIs; Nicole Lopez, 2-4; Heather Morales, 2-4. Long Beach State: Julia Lombardi, 2-3, 2B; Nichole Fry, 2-2, RBI; Sanchez, 2 RBIs.

Kanani Aina Cabrales and Rachel Lack. Christina Clermont and Irma Sanchez. W–Clermont. L–Aina Cabrales.

Leading hitters– Long Beach State: LT Torres, 2-3; Tierra Falo, RBI.