Hawaii lost 4-0 to Iowa and 3-2 to Texas on Saturday during the final day of the Hawaii Pacific Health Rainbow Wahine Classic. The Rainbow Wahine (16-17) managed just seven hits in the two losses and finished 3-3 in the tournament at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
“We were into it, but we were into it too late,” said Hawaii’s Tayana Mata, who struck out with the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh against Texas. “We weren’t as pumped as we should’ve been in the beginning until the seventh inning and we need to work on that.”
Hawaii got two runners on with one out in the bottom of the seventh against Texas (19-6), which received seven votes in the current softball poll. A wild pitch advanced them into scoring position and Texas replaced pitcher Kristen Clark with ace Tiarra Davis.
Davis struck out Ulu Matagiese for the second out. Kanani Aina Cabrales walked on a 3-2 count to load the bases. Mata worked a 3-2 count before striking out to end the game.
“To take a swing like that at the end is just uncalled for,” Hawaii coach Bob Coolen said. “You’re off balance, it was 3-2, you got to have a lot more composure at the plate rather than swinging off balance and leaning into a high pitch that probably was a ball. That wasn’t a good way to end the game. For them it was.”
Coolen credited his team for battling against Davis, who went 1-1 against Hawaii in the tournament. But the lack of focus hurt the Rainbow Wahine.
“We played so many games in so many days — it’s not an excuse but it took its toll today,” Coolen said. “They were looking (more) at visions of spring break than visions of winning two games.”
Davis was ready again if she needed to take the circle. She earned a win against Hawaii on Thursday before losing to the Rainbow Wahine on Friday.
“It was more of just going in there and keeping the pitch count down and just attack hitters,” said Davis, who earned the save.
Hawaii stranded 10 runners against Texas and missed out on potential runs in the fourth and fifth innings. Keiki Carlos scored from third on a wild pitch, cutting the deficit to 2-1 with two out in the bottom of the fourth. Rachael Turner then drew a walk, but Breanna Ojala started to wander from third base to home. Texas catcher Randel Leahy tagged Ojala on the base path to end the inning.
Hawaii loaded the bases with two out in the bottom of the fifth and Matagiese was hit a by pitch to bring home Sarah Muzik, cutting the deficit to 3-2. Clark then came on in relief and her first pitch landed in the dirt, getting by the catcher. But Hawaii’s Nicole Lopez didn’t advance home from third and Courtney Hiruko flew out to right to end the inning.
“We had a lot of missed opportunities,” Coolen said. “We should’ve scored on a passed ball.”
Two Iowa pitchers combined for a two-hit shutout in a 4-0 win over Hawaii. Kaitlyn Mullarkey doubled and tripled and scored twice for the Hawkeyes (8-16). Rachael Turner had both of Hawaii’s hits.
Hawaii played 16 games in March and won’t play again until the Big West opener on April 1 at UC Davis.
At Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium
| Iowa (8-16) 210 |
000 |
1 |
— |
4 |
9 |
2 |
| Hawaii (16-16) |
000 |
000 |
0 |
— |
0 |
2 |
1 |
Erin Riding, Shayla Starkenburg (4) and Holly Hoffman. Brittany Hitchcock, Kanani Aina Cabrales (3), Naomi Monahan (7) and Heather Cameron, Rachel Lack (3). W— Starkenburg. L—Hitchcock.
Leading hitters—Iowa: Kaitlyn Mullarkey2-3, 2B, 3B, RBI; Hoffman 2-3. UH: Rachael Turner 2-3.
| Texas (19-6) |
001 |
110 |
0 |
— |
3 |
8 |
3 |
| Hawaii (16-17) |
000 |
110 |
0 |
— |
2 |
5 |
1 |
Paige von Sprecken, Kristen Clark (5), Tiarra Davis (7) and Randel Leahy. Jennifer Iseri, Brittany Hitchcock (5) and Heather Cameron, Rachel Lack (5). W—von Sprecken.
L—Iseri. S—Davis.
Leading hitters—Texas: Holly Kern 3-3, RBI; Celina Felix 2-4, RBI; Davis 2B; Stephanie Ceo 2B. UH: Ulu Matagiese RBI.
