The University of Hawai’i softball team won both games of a doubleheader against Cal State Bakersfield on April 11, securing their fourth conference series win this season. The Rainbow Wahine took the first game 10-8 and followed with a dominant 14-0 victory in five innings at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
These wins are important for Hawai’i as they continue to strengthen their position in the Big West Conference. The results improve their overall record to 19-17 and their conference record to 11-6.
In the opening game, Jamie McGaughey hit a two-run home run in the first inning to give Hawai’i an early lead. Although Cal State Bakersfield briefly moved ahead in the fourth inning, Hawai’i responded with four runs, including RBI hits from Kolbi Kochi and Carys Murakami, and an RBI triple by Maycen Gibbs. Another four-run rally in the sixth was highlighted by McGaughey’s bases-clearing double. Hannah Pitts earned her ninth win of the season as pitcher.
The second game saw starting pitcher Taryn Irimata throw a one-hit shutout with seven strikeouts over five innings. The offense collected fifteen hits, including two seven-run innings. Kayara Tuiloma started scoring with an RBI single before Gibbs hit a two-run inside-the-park home run and McGaughey added another homer. Fielding errors by Bakersfield helped extend Hawai’i’s lead further after an hour-long rain delay.
The series will conclude on Saturday at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
