Senior Brittany Hitchcock struck out four and gave up five hits in a complete-game performance as Hawaii opened Big West softball play with a 4-1 victory over Long Beach State at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium on Friday.
The Rainbow Wahine (20-9, 1-0) snapped a four-game losing skid against the 49ers (13-17, 0-1). It was 10th compete game of the season for Hitchcock (9-5), who took a shutout into the top of the seventh.
Hawaii led 2-0 after three innings and added two insurance runs in the fourth. A bases-loaded walk to Jenna Kumabe scored Mikaela Gandia-Mak and Sissy Pantastico’s sacrifice fly scored Brittnee Rossi.
The teams conclude their series with today’s doubleheader that begins at 2 p.m.
Wahine upset Cal in water polo
Fresham Maxine Schapp’s late goal proved to be the difference as No. 5 Hawaii upset No. 4 Cal 6-5 in a women’s water polo match on Friday night at the Duke Kahanamoku Aquatics Complex.
It was first win for the Rainbow Wahine (14-4) over the Golden Bears (13-4) since 2016. Cal led 5-4 with six minutes left but Hawaii rallied with a goal by Carla Abellan as the shot clock expired to tie it and Schapp’s rainbow shot found the back of the net for the match-winner with less than two minutes to go.
Hilo baseball wins at home
The University of Hawaii Hilo baseball team rallied to defeat Academy of Art 3-2 at Wong Stadium in Hilo on Friday.
The Vulcans (12-15, 10-10 PacWest) scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth and the winning run in the seventh.
Junior Brandyn Lee-Lehano picked up the win for Hilo, pitching three innings, allowing three hits and two strikeouts.
PacWest softball teams go 2-4 at TOC
The Hawaii Hilo and Hawaii Pacific softball teams split their opening games while Chaminade went 0-2 on the opening day of the Tournament of Champions in Turlock, Calif., on Friday.
In the opener, the Vulcans (22-12) edged Cal State San Marco 2-1, getting both runs in the bottom of the seventh. Senior pitcher Isabelle Mejia scored the tying run off an RBI double from junior Vevesi Liilii and Liilii scored on a wild pitch.
Hilo dropped the second against Cal State East Bay 4-3 in eight innings. The Pioneers tied it with two runs in the bottom of the seventh then won it on an RBI single by Megan Araneta.
>> HPU (25-17) opened the tournament with a 7-2 loss to Concordia-Portland then shut out Simon Fraser 3-0. In the win over the Clan, senior pitcher Jordan Curry earned her 15th win of the season, striking out two with five hits and two walks.
Curry also led the Sharks offensively for the day, going 3-for-6 with two doubles and two runs scored.
>> Chaminade (10-25) fell to Cal State Dominguez Hills 6-2 and were mercy-ruled 18-7 in five innings against Sonoma State. The Silverswords opened the game against the Seawolves with five runs but were outscored 18-2 the rest of the way.
Kokko named honorable mention
University of Hawaii swimmer Olli Kokko was named an honorable mention All-American for the first time in his career at Friday’s NCAA Men’s Swimming and Diving Championships in Austin, Texas.
The junior from Lahti, Finland, finished 14th in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 52.22.
Kokko and teammates Metin Aydin, Kane Follows and Johan Sandell all are competing on today’s final day of the championships.
