UH, Hitchcock hold off New Mexico in softball

Hawaii senior Brittany Hitchcock posted a season-high nine strikeouts in a complete-game victory and the Rainbow Wahine softball team defeated New Mexico 2-1 on Wednesday at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

UH (8-2) took the lead in the first inning when Nicole Lopez drove in Brittnee Rossi from second with a double to left field. UH catcher Callee Heen extended the lead to 2-0 with a home run to lead off the fourth, the junior’s team-leading sixth homer of the season.

New Mexico scratched out a run in the sixth, but Hitchcock (3-1) stranded the tying run on third and retired the Lobos (3-6) in order in the seventh. Hitchcock held New Mexico to three hits and walked one.

The Wahine open the Hawaii Invitational with a game against Canisius today at 6 p.m.

UH swimmers start strong at MPSFs

The University of Hawaii swimming and diving teams started strong at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation championships, with both the men and women sitting in first place after the opening day.

The Rainbow Wahine scored 80 points, 12 better than second-place UC Santa Barbara. The Rainbow Warriors are tied with UCSB with 72.

On the women’s side, UH won the 800 freestyle relay in 7 minutes, 13.59 seconds and the 200 medley relay in 1:38.35.

The UH men won the 200 medley relay in 1:24.57.

Chaminade, HPU in regional rankings

The Chaminade men’s and Hawaii Pacific women’s basketball teams were ranked in the top 10 of the first NCAA Division II West Region rankings, which were released Wednesday.

The top eight squads in each of the eight regions will receive bids to the NCAA regionals.

Chaminade (19-5, 13-5 PacWest) came in at No. 7 in the men’s rankings.

HPU (18-7, 16-3 PacWest) was ranked 10th in the women’s rankings.

Jabour advances in Brazil

Hawaii’s Kiron Jabour was the lone local surfer to advance at the Oi Hang Loose Pro on Wednesday in Cacimba do Padre, Fernando de Noronha, Brazil.

After a first-round bye, Jabour posted a two-wave total of 10.47, a mere 0.19 points behind heat winner Miguel Blanco of Portugal.

Twelve of the 24 Round 2 heats have been completed. Hawaii’s Benji Brand was eliminated, while Ian Gentil’s heat has yet to run. In the first round, local surfers Cole Alves, Mason Ho and Sheldon Paishon were eliminated.

Bryan still alive in Australia

Gabriela Bryan, the lone Hawaii surfer in the Mothernest Great Lakes Pro, advanced to the fourth round Wednesday in New South Wales, Australia.

After a first-round bye, Bryan advanced by finishing second in her heat with a 10.35. Canada’s Bethany Zelasko won the heat with a 12.85.

Bryan then advanced through Round 3 in similar fashion, with her score of 10.90 ranking second in her heat behind California’s Kirra Pinkerton, who posted a 14.00.