Top-ranked UCLA and ace Rachel Garcia dealt the Hawaii softball team its first loss of the season, 7-0, Friday night at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
Garcia was masterful in tossing a one-hitter, striking out 15 and issuing one walk for the Bruins (3-0). Third baseman Nicole Lopez had the only hit, a single in the fourth.
UH (2-1) won its 2019 season opener in five innings, 8-0, over Georgia State late Thursday night. Brittany Hitchcock tossed a one-hitter and Callee Heen hit a two-run homer in the first inning to key the Rainbow Wahine.
The Wahine continued the Hawaii Paradise Classic with a dramatic 8-7 win against Texas-Arlington on Friday. With freshman Izzy Dino making her first start in the circle, UH jumped out to a 6-0 first-inning lead on the Mavericks. But UTA rallied to take a 7-6 lead in the top of the seventh.
In the bottom of the seventh, Lopez led off with a double and Cheeks Ramos drew a walk. Alyssa Sojka was hit by a pitch, loading the bases with one out. Then Brittnee Rossi poked a walk-off double to right-center field, scoring Lopez and pinch runner Bree Soma.
Hilo, HPU softball win pair of games
The Hawaii Pacific and Hawaii Hilo softball teams each won both games at the Dixie State Courtyard Classic on Friday in St. George, Utah.
In the Sharks’ first game, Sierra Dias hit a tie-breaking, two-run double in the top of the ninth inning in a 4-3 victory over CSU Pueblo.
The Sharks rallied past Chadron State 8-7 in the second game.
Hailey McKim hit a two-run homer in the fifth, while Noel Saunders hit a three-run homer and Jordan Curry added a go-ahead, two-run single in the sixth for the Sharks (4-5) in the second game.
In the Vulcans’ first game, Billi Derleth pitched a five-hitter and Kiarra Lincoln batted 3-for-3 with four RBIs in a 19-0 win over Chadron State in five innings.
In the second game, Hilo scored four runs in the sixth inning to beat Metropolitan State 8-4.
Chaminade men down Dominican
Erik Scheive scored 27 points and added 14 rebounds as Chaminade held off Dominican 80-75 in a PacWest men’s basketball game Friday night at McCabe Gym.
Tyler Cartaino added 22 points and Grant Dressler 18 for the Silverswords (17-4, 11-4).
The Penguins dropped to 7-16, 3-14.
>> James Griffin hit six 3-pointers en route to 28 points, but it was not enough as Hawaii Hilo lost to Academy of Art 68-63 at the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.
The Vulcans fell to 9-10, 7-8 PacWest, while the Urban Knights improved to 8-13, 8-8.
Hilo women hoops wins; Chaminade loses
Allie Navarette had 32 points and 12 rebounds as the Hawaii Hilo women’s basketball team routed Academy of Art 84-51 on Friday at Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.
The Vulcans improved to 7-12, 4-11 PacWest, while the Urban Knights fell to 3-16, 2-14.
>> Destiny Castro finished with 24 points and 10 rebounds, but Chaminade lost to Dominican 71-57 at McCabe Gym. The Silverswords dropped to 4-15, 3-12 PacWest, while the Penguins went to 18-3, 15-2.
Kinoshita drops 17 places to tie for 20th
Hawaii Hilo’s Jared Kinoshita fired a 1-over-par 73 and dropped 17 places into a tie for 20th after Friday’s second round of the Amer Ari Intercollegiate men’s golf tournament at Waikoloa Kings’ Golf Course.
Kinoshita is at 5-over 139, which is eight strokes behind leader Cole Hammer of Texas.
Hawaii’s top golfers, Cameron Kaneko and Trevor Hirata, are tied for 90th at 150.
Oklahoma State leads at 36-under 540. Hawaii Hilo is 15th at 276 and Hawaii is 18th and last at 603.
