Riverside, CA (February 25, 2012) – The Hawai'i Pacific softball team (8-4, 3-1) ended their first road trip of the season with a doubleheader split against California Baptist (13-2, 1-1). HPU used a five run third inning to win game one 7-5, and then was shutout 7-0 in game two.

HPU took a commanding 5-0 lead in game one after the third inning. Malie Kim drove in Chante Tesoro to start the scoring, and then Breanne Patton singled in Keila Elderts. Later in the inning, Patton scored on an RBI hit from Nicole Morrow. Celina Garces got the big two RBI double to close the scoring in the frame. HPU added an unearned run in the fourth inning to lead 6-0. CBU got a run back in the bottom of the fourth, but HPU answered in the top of the fifth on a bases loaded walk to Elderts. CBU scored the final four runs of the game in the fifth and sixth innings but it would not be enough.

Tesoro, Garces and Kim led the offense with two hits apiece. Garces was a run producer, driving in two runs. Elderts had a good all-around game with two runs, two steals, two walks, a hit and a RBI. Patton got the win, she is now 5-1 on the season.

In game two, CBU scored at least one run in every inning except the sixth to get the win. HPU was limited to five hits, three of them coming from Tesoro. Melissa Kirby was tagged with the loss after surrendering six runs (four earned) on 13 hits in four and two-thirds innings. Samantha Haralson pitched two and a third innings and allowed just one unearned run.

The softball team returns home for an exhibition doubleheader against Spokane Falls Community College at 11 AM on Saturday at Howard A. Okita Field.