The University of Hawai’i softball team began the OUTRIGGER Classic with two wins in a doubleheader at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium on Friday. The Rainbow Wahine first defeated Mercyhurst 8-0 in five innings, followed by a close 6-5 victory over Portland State in eight innings.
In the opening game against Mercyhurst, pitcher Macy Brandl delivered a complete-game shutout, allowing only one hit and striking out five batters. Brandl improved her season record to 2-0. The Rainbow Wahine took an early lead, scoring three runs in the first inning after a series of plays that included a bunt by Maycen Gibbs and an RBI-groundout from Jamie McGaughey. Additional runs came in the second inning through errors and walks, and Bailey Nagasako contributed with an RBI double in the fourth. The game ended under the mercy rule when Carys Murakami hit a sacrifice fly to bring home the final run.
Mercyhurst’s Alexa North started as pitcher and took the loss after giving up seven runs on six hits over more than four innings.
The second game against Portland State required extra innings to determine a winner. Portland State scored first due to a throwing error. Hawai’i responded with three runs in the third inning, highlighted by Gibbs’ third home run of the season. Milan Ah Yat added her first home run of the year in the fourth inning.
Portland State narrowed Hawai’i’s lead with two runs in the fifth and tied the game at 5-5 after fielding errors allowed runners to score in both the fifth and seventh innings. In extra innings, Rhea Furtado started at second base under international tie breaker rules and scored on an error after advancing to third base.
Hannah Pitts earned her second win of the season for Hawai’i, pitching 6.2 innings across multiple appearances during the game without issuing any walks. Millie Fidge also pitched but allowed two unearned runs before Pitts returned to close out the eighth inning.
Portland State’s Sherrel Nakoa-Chung pitched seven innings but was charged with five runs on seven hits.
The OUTRIGGER Classic will conclude Saturday with games between Mercyhurst and Portland State at 10:00 a.m., followed by Hawai’i facing Portland State at 12:30 p.m., then Mercyhurst at 3:00 p.m., all taking place at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
