SAN DIEGO, Calif. — The Hawaii softball team prevailed in games both short and long on Saturday to move back into first place in the Big West Conference.
UH pummeled UC San Diego 13-1 in a mercy-shortened five-inning game, then outlasted the hosts 1-0 in eight innings in the series rubber match at Triton Softball Field.
Bob Coolen’s Rainbow Wahine improved to 13-11 overall and 7-2 in the conference after falling out of first with a 2-0 loss to UCSD in the series opener Friday.
UH made it 3-for-3 in series victories to begin BWC play. The last time UH got off to such a start was 2019, when it won eight of its first nine Big West games.
In a tense pitcher’s duel that went to an extra frame, first baseman Dallas Millwood smacked a solo home run to left-center field off of UCSD freshman ace Jada Cecil, who was nearly untouchable in the circle on Friday and to that point on Saturday. Cecil had 29 strikeouts of UH batters spanning her two starts.
Millwood told Spectrum News in a postgame phone interview that she had to change her approach at the plate four times against Cecil, who had good velocity and spin. She stopped looking for riseballs and started seeking outside pitches. She moved up in the batter’s box and began to crowd the plate, and tried to slap at the ball.
It finally paid off. Millwood was demonstrative as she rounded the bases on her third long ball of the season.
“That was probably the fastest I’ve ever ran,” the junior Millwood said with a laugh.
UH’s freshman workhorse, Brianna Lopez, scattered six hits in going the distance. She worked out of trouble in the bottom of the eighth – she issued a leadoff walk to Deena Pederson, who advanced to second base – to move to 7-5 on the season. Lopez finished at 120 pitches and seven strikeouts to Cecil's 123 pitches and 13 Ks.
“It felt the best because that helped Bri. That helped our pitcher feel more confident,” said Millwood, who noted the team has had trouble giving her run support. “It was just, ‘we got you, Bri.’ Amazing.”
Isabel Lavrov was called out for runner’s interference to end the game as second baseman Maya Nakamura tried to field a grounder. UCSD dropped to 18-16 overall and 6-3 in the Big West.
In the first game of the day, UH had offense to spare.
Senior Ashley Murphy held the Tritons to four hits and a run to improve to 2-2 on the season.
Murphy got superb run support as UH compiled 15 hits; Casey Beaulac, Izabella Martinez, Nakamura, Haley Johnson, Ka‘ena Keliinoi and Mya’Liah Bethea had multi-hit games.
Bethea, the No. 9 hitter, went 3-for-3 with her first home run of the season.
“We got fight, man. It’s such a proud thing,” Millwood said of winning Saturday’s games in stark fashion. “I feel the pride when I’m with the girls. I feel how much we have each other’s backs and how much we want to play for the person next to us. It’s a totally different vibe and I’m loving it. It’s a great team this year.”
Cal State Fullerton also moved to 7-2 Saturday. UH hosts Cal Poly at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium for its next three-game series Friday and Saturday.
Brian McInnis covers the state's sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii.
