WU Plays Home Opener Against Hawaii Pacific

It was a much-anticipated game for the Westcliff softball team as they hosted their game opener against Hawaii Pacific on Wednesday. 

This was a game that was rescheduled a day sooner due to oncoming rain storms coming to southern California in the days to come.

Head Coach Brandon Wallace knew that it would be a difficult game with the squad eager to perform well in their home turf: "We were a bit slow and had some jitters in the first inning but I think we started working that out as the game progressed."

Westcliff fell behind in the top of the third with a single to right field that allowed the runner to score from third base.

Hawaii Pacific managed to score one run in the fifth and sixth innings before the Warriors were able to score one in the bottom of the sixth.

Kassandra Ramos singled to right field which allowed Kassidy Moore to advance to third and then advance to score after a throwing error by the right fielder.

"Overall they're coming together," Wallace said.

WU saw three pitchers hit the mound Emily Rosas, Alex Corrales, and Etta Van Burgsteden.

Rosas had three strikeouts but allowed three hits and one run.

When up to bat, the Warriors were getting more touches but Coach Wallace knows this is an area that will need to improve.

Ramos went (1-for-2) earning one RBI and was walked once.

Both Olivia Pino and Lauren Coppla went (1-for-3).

"Our pitchers were once again holding it down," Wallace said. "We're making the adjustments at the plate and swinging earlier in the count, we just got to be able to capitalize. Leaving seven runners on the base is not going to get the job done. Other than that, I do think we're progressing in the direction we need to go."

With the home opener nerves out of the way, one hopes that the team will be able to play more comfortably and continue to grow along the way this season.

Up next the Warriors will have a couple of days to practice before their next games against Menlo and Jessup on February 9th and 10th.