HONOLULU — Macy Brandl has a chance to alter the Hawaii softball team’s Big West trajectory.

The Fullerton College transfer tossed a one-hitter to lead the Rainbow Wahine to a 6-0 win in the nightcap of Saturday’s doubleheader split with UC Davis at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

Coach Bob Coolen told Spectrum News that Brandl (8-4) will get the starting nod for the series rubber match at 2 p.m. Sunday.

UH (17-12, 3-4 Big West) yielded eight runs in the top of the eighth inning in Game 1 of the series, a 12-4 loss. Starter Addison Kostrencich and reliever Millie Fidge were each shelled for four runs in the frame.

“Macy came in, different type of pitcher, little bit of a rise ball, screw curve, and she mixed it up well,” Coolen said. “Bella (Martinez) did a good job behind the plate. I think she threw one changeup because she didn't need to throw any changeups, because they were chasing and she was getting a lot of fly balls, pop-ups and things like that.”

Brandl, a sophomore, struck out five and walked three.

The Wahine had the potential winning run on third in the bottom of the fifth in Game 1. They did a better job of closing out the second game as Jamie McGaughey homered to lead off a three-run sixth frame. Liliana Thomas hit a solo shot to center in the fourth.

UC Davis (11-9, 5-3) entered the weekend with a 4-2 Big West record, outperforming preseason expectations.

It is early, but UH is in seventh place, outside of the six-team qualification range for the inaugural Big West tournament that will decide the recipient of the league’s NCAA Tournament berth.

“There's a lot more purpose to the season,” Coolen said. “No one's out of it at all right now, and it's not going to really play itself out for a couple of weeks. And so we just have to keep going and be competitive and take some of the series.”

The final game of last week’s road series at Cal State Northridge was postponed due to weather, leaving the series suspended at 1-1. Coolen said that game will be made up ahead of the Cal Poly road series April 25-26.

Brian McInnis covers the state’s sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.