Kaneohe, HI (March 18, 2012) – The Hawai'i Pacific softball team took both ends of the doubleheader against visiting Academy of Art on a soggy Sunday in Kaneohe. HPU took a 7-1 lead in game one and cruised to a 7-4 win. Game two was shortened to five innings due to a downpour, but HPU prevailed 9-3 after going in a 0-3 hole.

After two hits in the top of the first in game one, HPU scored on an illegal pitch. HPU would tack on four more in the second highlighted by a two run triple by Keila Elderts. Maile Kim and Melissa Awa also added RBI. Art U would score in the top of the third, but the Sea Warriors would add two more in the bottom of the third. Nicole Morrow would score on an error, and later in the inning Celina Garces would drive a run in. AAU added three more runs in the sixth and seventh innings combined, but it would not be enough.  

Elderts, Kim, and Morrow all had multi-hit games with Elderts and Morrow driving in two runs apiece. Breanne Patton got the complete game win for HPU; she is now 9-1 on the season.

In game two, Art U scored three times in the first inning to take an early lead. After that, HPU starter Melissa Kirby would post four shutout innings. At one point, Kirby set down 12 of 13 hitters.

HPU would get a run in the second on a RBI from Elderts to make it a 3-1 deficit. HPU would take the lead in the fourth after five runs came across on five hits, two errors, and a wild pitch. Kim, Caira Pires, and Morrow all picked up RBI. The Sea Warriors would put the game out of reach with three runs in the fifth. Pires would drive in another run as Morrow added two.
In the top of the sixth inning, the heavens opened up with rain and the game was called.

Chante Tesoro, Elderts, Morrow and Awa each had two hits in game two. Kirby pitched five innings, giving up two earned runs on her way to the win.

HPU and AAU will play another doubleheader tomorrow at 1 PM at Howard A. Okita Field.