Contributions from the entire lineup helped the Hawaii softball team rally twice for wins.
The host Rainbow Wahine beat Iowa 5-4 on a walk-off and then rallied for a 3-2 win over Texas on Friday at the Hawaii Pacific Health Rainbow Wahine Classic.
Pitcher Brittany Hitchcock struck out six to help Hawaii (16-15) beat Texas (18-6). Breanna Ojala homered for the first time this season in the win.
“In the Texas game, it was like everyone contributed,” said Hawaii coach Bob Coolen. “We haven’t had certain kids stepping up. Bre hit her first home run after hitting a couple in the fall. We had other kids that stepped into roles. We took Tay (Mata) and put her in and she came through (and Sarah) Muzik moving to left, a better outfielder so everyone had a handle on that.”
Hawaii took a 3-2 lead on a Texas throwing error in the bottom of the sixth. Pinch hitter Rachel Lack drew a walk on a wild pitch by Tiarra Davis. Catcher Erin Shireman then threw to third as Mata took off from second. Mata dove into third as the throw went into foul territory. She got up to score the go-ahead run.
“You got to take a gamble,” Coolen said. “It’s two outs and you may not get another opportunity with their ace on the mound, so that’s why you just got to go for it and see if they throw the ball and they didn’t throw the ball and that was to our benefit.”
Davis reached base with one out in the top of the seventh on a Hawaii throwing error. Hitchcock then struck out Celina Felix for the second out and Reagan Hathaway grounded out to first to end the game.
Ojala’s two-run home run helped Hawaii tie the game at 2 in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Stephanie Ceo scored on Felix’s groundout to second to put Texas up 1-0. Ceo drove in Devon Tunning in the top of the fourth to put Texas ahead 2-0.
In the opener against Iowa, Nicole Lopez’s walk-off hit won it for the Rainbow Wahine (7-16). Lopez singled to left to score Muzik, who singled with two out and stole second to get into scoring position.
Hawaii loaded the bases with two out in the bottom of the sixth on two singles and an error. Ojala’s two-run single to right field tied the game at 3. Ulu Matagiese followed with an RBI single to give Hawaii a 4-3 lead.
Iowa’s Mallory Kilian homered to tie it at 4 in the top of the seventh.
Freshman pitcher Jennifer Iseri threw a complete game for her third win of the season.
Hawaii faces Iowa and Texas starting at noon today to end the tournament.
| Iowa (7-16) |
000 |
300 |
1 |
— |
4 |
7 |
1 |
| Hawaii (15-15) |
000 |
103 |
1 |
— |
5 |
7 |
3 |
Elizabeth Wiegand, Ashley Yoways (6) and Holly Hoffman. Jennifer Iseri and Heather Cameron. W–Iseri. L–Wiegand.
Leading hitters–Iowa: Mallory Kilian 2-4, HR; Angela Schmiederer 2B, RBI; Taylor 2B, RBI. UH: Nicole Lopez 2-4, RBI; Breanna Ojala 2 RBIs; Tayana Mata HR.
| Texas (18-6) |
001 |
100 |
0 |
— |
2 |
7 |
1 |
| Hawaii (16-15) |
000 |
201 |
x |
— |
3 |
4 |
2 |
Tiarra Davis and Erin Shireman. Brittany Hitchock and Heather Cameron. W–Hitchcock. L–Davis.
Leading hitters–UT: Stephanie Ceo 2-3, RBI. UH: Breanna Ojala HR, 2 RBIs
