VIDEO: Lopez, Dino earn Big West softball honors

Rainbow Wahine third baseman Nicole Lopez was named the Big West softball field player of the week on Monday and pitcher Izzy Dino earned the freshman of the week award.

Lopez hit .552 (12-for-23) in seven games last week and closed the weekend by hitting two two-run home runs in a 7-2 win over Canisius on Sunday. She finished the week with three doubles, four homers and three stolen bases and scored 10 runs.

The senior has hit safely in 15 of UH’s 16 games this season and leads Rainbow Wahine (12-4) a .455 batting average, seven doubles, 13 RBIs and 23 runs scored. Her five homers ranks second to Callee Heen‘s six. Lopez’s lone hitless game so far was an 0-for-4 day against Seattle on Feb. 16 in Las Vegas and she will take a seven-game hitting streak into the Outrigger Resorts Hawaii Spring Fling Tournament, which opens March 6.

DePaul scored three runs in the top of the seventh to take a 4-1 lead vs. #HawaiiSB. Nicole Lopez brings UH within a run with a 2-run HR, but the Blue Demons hold on for the 4-3 win. UH (9-3) faces New Mexico next. @hawaiiwworld pic.twitter.com/4gOGRkcP4m

— Jason Kaneshiro (@jasonkaneshiro) February 23, 2019

UPDATE: Here’s Lopez on her hot start on Tuesday:

Here's @BigWestSoftball field player of the week, #HawaiiSB third baseman Nicole Lopez on what's led to her hot start (.455 hitting, 5 HR) and that of the team (12-4). pic.twitter.com/uNJ5MQdUrB

— Hawaii Warrior World (@hawaiiwworld) February 27, 2019

Dino went 2-0 last week with a 0.44 earned-run average. She earned a complete-game win in UH’s 4-1 victory over Canisius to open the Hawaii Invitational last Thursday. She then threw nine innings of scoreless relief in two appearances against New Mexico on Friday and Saturday.

UH freshman Izzy Dino closes out a 4-1 win with her fourth K of the night. #HawaiiSB (9-2) faces DePaul and New Mexico tomorrow at RWSS. @hawaiiwworld pic.twitter.com/g7BFy23ZgW

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— Jason Kaneshiro (@jasonkaneshiro) February 22, 2019

Dino (4-1), who threw a no-hitter against Saint Mary’s in her second start, struck out 10, walked four and allowed nine hits over the week. She posted three strikeouts in 3 1/3 innings to help the Rainbow Wahine fend off New Mexico in a 3-2 victory last Friday. The right-hander finished off the win with a decisive defensive assist from center fielder Brittnee Rossi.

The Lobos put runners on first and second with two out in the top of the seventh and Andrea Howard drilled a single back up the middle. Rossi came up firing as Taylor Jones rounded third and Heather Cameron made the catch and the tag for the final out of the game.

UH CF Brittnee Rossi closes out a 3-2 win over New Mexico by throwing the tying run out at the plate. UH (10-3) and UNM meet again tomorrow at 10 a.m. @hawaiiwworld pic.twitter.com/Rqf5aLeJ8C

— Jason Kaneshiro (@jasonkaneshiro) February 23, 2019

UPDATE: Here’s Dino on Tuesday about the successful start to her career:

And here's @BigWestSoftball freshman of the week Izzy Dino, who is 4-1 in the circle with a 2.31 ERA. pic.twitter.com/D8oPycLvUW

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— Hawaii Warrior World (@hawaiiwworld) February 27, 2019