UH splits softball doubleheader

The University of Hawaii softball team pulled out a 6-2 win over UTEP before falling to James Madison 1-0 in the finale of the Texaco Malihini Kipa Aloha Tournament on Sunday at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

UH ended the week at 10-8 overall and 4-2 in the tournament. James Madison (14-3) claimed the tournament title as the week’s lone undefeated team at 5-0.

In UH’s first game of the afternoon, Callee Heen broke a 2-2 tie with a two-run homer to left-center in the fifth in the win over UTEP (10-12). Danielle Garcielita added a two-run single in support of senior Dana Thomsen, who closed out a complete-game victory. Thomsen (5-4) allowed seven hits, struck out five and walked one.

In the finale, JMU (14-2) scratched out a run in the fifth on Cambry Arnold’s single through the left side. Madison Naujokas slid around the tag at the plate to score from second.

Odicci Alexander held UH to three hits and struck out five in the complete-game win. UH’s Brittany Hitchcock (5-4) struck out three and allowed four hits in the loss.

The Wahine open the Outrigger Resorts Hawaii Spring Fling Tournament on Wednesday against East Carolina.

HPU women awarded No. 2 regional seed

The Hawaii Pacific women’s basketball team drew the No. 2 seed on Sunday for the NCAA Division II West Regional, which starts Friday in Azusa, Calif.

The Sharks (26-3, 18-2) tied for the PacWest regular-season championship and won the tournament title Saturday.

HPU will face No. 7 seed Montana State Billings (18-11) in Friday’s quarterfinal. The Sharks beat the Yellowjackets 79-52 in December.

Host Azusa Pacific (27-4, 18-2) tied HPU for the PacWest regular-season crown and fell in the tournament semifinals. The Cougars will face No. 8 seed Humboldt State (18-12).

In other matchups, No. 3 seed UC San Diego (27-4) will play No. 6 Seattle Pacific (23-7) and No. 4 Northwest Nazarene (22-4) will meet No. 5 Alaska Anchorage (25-4).