Hawaii Pacific splits softball double dip

Keila Elderts and Noelani Boyer drove in two runs apiece to help the Hawaii Pacific softball team take the first game of a doubleheader against California Baptist, 4-1, on Monday at Howard A Okita Field.

Sharks shortstop Sharae Esprecion led all batters with two hits, while teammate Toni Baysa added a triple.

HPU starter Kristen Caskey improved to 4-0 after allowing a run on four hits and striking out three. Cal Baptist’s Loie Kesterson (10-3) took the loss after allowing four runs on six hits and walking six.

The Lancers (20-6, 9-3 PacWest) salvaged the split with a 9-3 victory, thanks in part to RBIs from Jordan Mowatt and three hits off the bat of Krista Mann.

Dorian Acierto paced HPU (9-3, 2-2) at the plate with a three-run home run.

Cal Baptist starter Kayla Hatch (8-2) allowed three runs on six hits in the complete-game effort, while Sharks starter Alexa McCoin (2-2) took the loss after surrendering four runs on six hits through three innings.

UH Hilo drops pair to Dixie State

Courtney Hine and Janessa Bassett each drove in a run for Dixie State as the visiting squad swept a doubleheader with UH Hilo on Monday via 2-0 scores.

The Red Storm (19-5, 10-0 PacWest) shut out the Vulcans (12-9, 7-4) behind a complete-game two-hitter from starter Michelle Duncan (11-0) in the first game and a six-hit blanking by hurler Aryn Feickert (7-0) in the second matchup.

Vanessa Salinas (7-5) and Danielle Wilson (5-4) took the losses for UH Hilo. Colleen Aubrey led the Vulcans at the dish with three of the team’s eight combined hits for the day.

Hitchcock named pitcher of the week

Three wins in four appearances earned University of Hawaii freshman Brittany Hitchcock the Big West softball Pitcher of the Week award on Monday.

Hitchcock posted a 0.69 earned-run average while going 3-0 in the Outrigger Resorts Spring Fling Tournament. She allowed five runs, just two earned, in 201⁄3 innings, with 13 strikeouts against four walks and was named the tournament’s most valuable pitcher.

The right-hander threw 41⁄3 innings of relief to earn the win in UH’s 8-7 comeback win over Longwood last Thursday, then turned in complete-game victories against Oregon State on Friday and Utah on Sunday.

She struck out six and walked two while scattering seven hits in UH’s 4-1 win over OSU. She then held Utah to one hit over the final five innings and retired 12 consecutive hitters from the third through sixth innings in a 5-1 win on Sunday. Hitchcock (7-3, 2.71) also had three strikeouts while throwing the first two innings of UH’s win over East Carolina in the tournament finale.

"She’s been really moving the ball well and hitting her spots," UH catcher Kayla Wartner said after Sunday’s doubleheader sweep. "For her it’s keeping the ball down and she’s doing a really good job of that. I think she’s just thinking less of what she needs to do and going out there and trusting her pitches."

UH (16-9) faces East Carolina (7-14) again on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium and opens the Hawaii Pacific Health Rainbow Wahine Classic on Wednesday against Western Illinois. The five-day tournament also features St. Bonaventure, Virginia Tech and Columbia.