The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa softball team’s offense came alive to defeat Fullerton College, 6-1 on November 13. The game closed out the Fall Preseason Classic Tournament, which took place on November 11 and 13 at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
UH broke a scoreless game in the fifth inning. Jadyn Nielsen and Cierra Yamamoto were plunked, and then Malia Xiao Gin drew a walk to load the bases. Maya Nakamura then drilled a bases-clearing double down towards the third baseline, deep into the leftfield corner. Kaʻena Keliinoi followed with a sharp single to the left-centerfield gap to allow Nakamura to score from second. After five complete innings, UH led 4-0.
The Rainbow Wahine added two more runs in the sixth inning. Kayla Tierney laced a single through the right side of the infield and Yamamoto ripped a triple down the first baseline to drive in Tierney. Gin then lifted a sacrifice fly to left to score Yamamoto.
Nakamura led the UH offense going 2-for-3 with a double and a triple and three RBI. Keliinoi and Izabella Martinez also went 2-for-3 with Keliinoi adding an RBI and Martinez hitting a double.
Starter Brianna Lopez earned the win, firing 5.2 innings. She fanned a total of eight Fullerton players with no walks, while allowing one run on four hits. Malia Williams got the last out of the sixth inning on a strikeout. Chloe Borges got two outs to start the seventh inning with a strikeout and Key-annah Campbell-Pua struck out the last batter to end the game.
The Fall Preseason Classic concludes the Rainbow Wahine’s 2022 games. The team will open the 2023 season by hosting the Paradise Classic, February 10–12.
For more, visit hawaiiathletics.com.
