Paradise Classic rained out, Wahine to head to Las Vegas

Heavy rain on Saturday washed out the final day of the University of Hawaii softball team’s Paradise Classic.

Five games were scheduled — including a UH doubleheader against Boise State and UAB — at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. But the rain rendered the field unplayable leaving the Rainbow Wahine at 2-1 heading into their first road trip of the season.

UH embarks on its annual early-season trip to Las Vegas this week to play in the DeMarini Desert Classic. The Wahine will face BYU on Thursday, San Jose State and Texas State on Friday, Memphis and Colorado State on Saturday and Nevada on Sunday.

UH opened the Paradise Classic with wins over Sacramento State and Boise State on Thursday and fell to Oregon State 2-0 on Friday in a game that started at 9 p.m.

Oregon State freshman right-hander Nerissa Eason escaped a bases-loaded jam in the first inning then held UH to two singles, struck out four and walked three in a complete-game victory. Catcher Kayleen Shafer’s two-run home run with two out in the top of the second inning accounted for all of the scoring.

Other than Shafer’s line drive over the left-field fence, UH junior Brittany Hitchcock stifled OSU in a complete-game effort with the backing of a solid defensive performance. The right-hander held the Beavers to four hits, struck out eight and walked one while throwing 74 pitches.

“It’s just a matter of getting over that little bit of a hump where our hitters come through and we put pressure on (the opponent) rather than them putting pressure on us,” UH coach Bob Coolen said, “because Brittany threw another great game.”

Hitchcock allowed two runs on seven hits, struck out 19 and walked one over 14 innings against Sacramento State and Oregon State.

Senior Kanani Aina Cabrales earned a complete-game victory against Boise State in Thursday’s late meeting. The right-hander struck out seven and walked three in UH’s 5-3 win. After giving up a home run that cut UH’s lead to 4-3 in the sixth inning, Aina Cabrales retired the last six batters she faced.

Freshman right fielder Chardonnay Pantastico went 3-for-3 with a homer against Boise State and led UH at the plate in the tournament at .429. Junior center fielder Danielle Garcielita hit .333 in her debut weekend in the leadoff spot. Sophomore second baseman Sarah Muzik and freshman designated player Callee Heen drove in three runs each.

Newcomers accounted for 10 of UH’s 18 hits in the tournament, including freshman Bree Soma, who singled with two out in the seventh inning against Oregon State in her first collegiate at-bat.

“We needed to get the butterflies out of all the players that haven’t played,” Coolen said. “We need to keep putting them in games that we have the potential of winning to see what they are capable of doing.”

DEMARINI DESERT CLASSIC

At Las Vegas

Hawaii vs. BYU, Thursday 2:30 p.m.

Hawaii vs. San Jose State, Friday, 8:00 a.m.

Hawaii vs. Texas State, Friday, 12:30 pm.

Hawaii vs. Memphis, Saturday, 10:15 a.m.

Hawaii vs. Colorado, State, Saturday, 2:45 p.m.

Hawaii vs. UNR, Sunday, 9:15 a.m