LONG BEACH, Calif. – Two early runs and a strong start from junior Kate Barnett spotted Long Beach State an early lead, but a two-run rally in the sixth inning from Hawai’i allowed the Rainbow Wahine to spoil the party with a 3-2 victory.
Barnett set Hawai’i (13-14, 5-4 Big West) down in order to begin the game, and then Long Beach State (18-13, 6-3 Big West) went to work manufacturing a run in the bottom half. Lina Apodaca was hit on the first pitch of the inning, and then after a wild pitch, was pushed to third with a sacrifice bunt and then scored on a sacrifice fly from Priscilla Iniguez to give the Beach an early lead.
Hawai’i answered back with a solo home run from Millie Fidge, but that would be the only hit Barnett would allow in four innings of work. The Beach reclaimed the lead in the second. Brooklyn Lee hit a double to start the inning, and after another sac bunt, an RBI single from Audree Mendoza put Long Beach State back in front 2-1.
The Rainbow Wahine turned to Taryn Irimata, game two’s winner at that point, and Irimata again stilled the LBSU bats, allowing just one hit the rest of the way, and UH finally pushed back in front in the sixth. A leadoff walk led to trouble, with Carys Murakami picking up second on a wild pitch. A hit to left looked to be leading to a play at the plate, but a misplay by Emily Dowden instead led to Murakami scoring and Maycen Gibbs ending up on third. That would be a key play as a sacrifice fly scored Gibbs, which would be the winning run as LBSU got out of the inning.
Irimata finished off the game with six straight outs, not giving Long Beach State the opportunity to rally for another win like they did in the opening game on Friday.
Long Beach State continues Big West play on the road, facing UC San Diego in a three-game series on Friday, March 27 and Saturday, March 28.
