Hawaiʻi softball turns back Cal State Fullerton in 10-inning thriller!

Break out the champagne everybody!

It took 10 innings, but the University of Hawaiʻi Softball team got the final say, 2-1, over the Cal State Fullerton Titans thanks to a walk-off run from Mya'Liah Bethea in the 10th inning at Rainbow Wāhine Softball Stadium on Friday! It was also historic, as Coach Bob Coolen earned his 1100th win at UH!

Colby McClinton belted Fullerton's only run -- a solo homer to left field -- in the top of the second inning for an early 1-0 lead.

It looked like another pitcher's duel, but UH scored in the sixth inning. After Fullerton walked Keely Kai, Izabella Martinez juiced an RBI single and got to second base on the throw. It was enough to drive in Kai and tie the game.

"That was a lot of fun to play!" Martinez said.

Fullerton repeatedly came up empty, but UH could not convert a run before the seven scheduled innings were over. A long night appeared to be in store until the 10th inning came.

UH got another chance to score following back-to-back singles from Bethea and Kaʻena Keliinoi. With two outs, Kai was at bat and attempted a bunt. Bethea successfully stole third base simultaneously, then brought the RWSS crowd to its feet with the game-winning run after the throw to third base ricocheted into left field.

"After Mya'Liah got the hit, I was like, 'Okay, we just pass the bat, pass the bat!'" Keliinoi said of the clutch win. "I just made do with what I got with the pitch."

"I was just saying, 'Thank you, Mya'Liah for doing your job, babe!'" Martinez added of Bethea's game-winning run. "She always finds ways to amaze all of us!"

For UH, this is the fourth consecutive time they've beaten Fullerton at home going back to their season sweep in 2022.

With the win, UH improves to 20-21 overall and 13-7 in the Big West standings. They advanced to third place before tonight's game after Cal Poly was swept by Fullerton last week.

Cal State Fullerton fell to 32-16 overall with the loss, but they still lead the Big West standings at 18-4. Both UH and CSF will return to Rainbow Wāhine Softball Stadium on Saturday, May 4, 2024, in a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. HST. Saturday's doubleheader will be televised on Spectrum Sports and heard on the radio at CBS 1500. UH will also say aloha to nine seniors at the end of the doubleheader.