HONOLULU—The University of Hawai’i softball team (17-9, 0-0 Big West) wrapped up its pre-season schedule with one final game against Niagara (2-15). The Rainbow Wahine defeated the Purple Eagles in a rain shortened game, 2-1 on Tuesday afternoon at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. A heavy Mānoa rain started with one out in the bottom of the sixth and did not let up forcing the umpires to call the game.
UH starter Key-Annah Campbell-Pua (7-3) threw the first 3-2/3 innings. She allowed one run on five hits with a walk and a pair of strikeouts. Reliever Brianna Lopez held Niagara at bay over the next 2-1/3 innings. She did not allow a hit and had two strikeouts.
With Maycen Gibbs running at first in the bottom of the second, Xiao Gin drilled a triple past a diving leftfielder to drive in Gibbs. Later Gin scored on a wild pitch to give UH an early 2-0 lead.
Niagara cut their deficit in half in the fourth with a two out RBI-single from Hannah Mingle to drive in Shayna Myshrall from second to cut their deficit to one run, 2-1.
Niagara starting pitcher Maddie Hickingbottom (1-7) suffered the loss, allowing two runs on four hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
Hawai’i will now have two days off before opening their Big West conference season against UC Santa Barbara. The three-game series begins with a single game on Friday, March 17 at 6:00 p.m. HT followed by a doubleheader on Saturday,March 18 starting at 2:00 p.m. HT.
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