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Wahine softball team rallies past Utah Valley

Jason Kaneshiro

Hawaii freshman Nicole Lopez hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the fifth inning to power the Rainbow Wahine softball team to a 6-4 win over Utah Valley today in the final game of the Bank of Hawaii Invitational.

The Rainbow Wahine fell behind twice before Lopez’s third home run of the season gave UH its first lead of the afternoon. Kanani Aina Cabrales earned her third win of the tournament in relief and the Wahine closed the weekend at 4-1 in the tournament and 10-7 overall.

Utah Valley (4-12) bunched four hits in the bottom of the third inning and took a 2-0 lead on back-to-back RBI singles by Brianna Gatlin and Morgan Smith.

UH shortstop Breanna Ojala led off the bottom of the inning with a double and advanced on Sarah Muzik’s bunt. Lopez then drove in Ojala with a sacrifice line out to center field.

The Wahine tied the game with two out in the fourth when Heather Cameron’s flyball to shallow right was dropped, allowing Heather Morales to score from second.

Aina Cabrales relieved Brittany Hitchcock in the fifth and UVU reclaimed the lead on Brittney Vansway’s two-run double to right.

Ojala reached on an error to lead off the bottom of the inning, Muzik walked and Lopez’s blast to left center gave UH the lead.

UH added a run in the sixth on Naomi Monahan’s pinch-hit sacrifice fly to score Tayana Mata and Aina Cabrales retired the Wolverines in order in the seventh.

The Wahine will next play host to Coastal Carolina and Stanford in the three-day Pepsi Malihini Kipa Aloha Tournament starting Friday.

One response to “Wahine softball team rallies past Utah Valley”

  1. bleedgreen says:

    Go Wahine !!! Fun game to watch.

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