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LAS CRUCES, N.M.—The No. 11/13 University of Hawai`i softball team (44-6, 17-3 WAC) fell to BYU, 6-4 in the Western Athletic Conference Tournament semifinal game today at the NM State Softball Complex. The Rainbow Wahine will now have to play the winner of the Fresno State vs. Louisiana Tech (the game going on right now) for a chance to advance to tomorrow's championship game(s).
 
The 'Bows jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Kayla Wartner started the rally with a single up the middle and was followed by Sarah Robinson who drilled a single down the leftfield line to put runners at first and second. Jessica Iwata then worked the count to full fouling off a handful of pitches before she launched a three-run home run over the batting cage in leftfield and onto the roof of the building in left.
 
The Cougars roared back in the bottom of the frame. UH starter Parnaby got called early on a couple of illegal pitches against the first few batters. She plunked the first batter for BYU, Jessica Dugas. Tiffany Messerschmidt then laid down a bunt single to third to put runners at first and second. JC Clayton then walked to load the bases. Parnaby struck out the following batter, Delaney Willard, but Katie Manuma then chopped a hard hit that bounced over the second baseman into the right-center to score both Dugas and Messerschmidt with runners left at the corners. Stacie Tonie then laid down another bunt single that scored Clayton and left runners at the corners again. Krista Hicks then lifted a high fly ball that drifted over the right-centerfield fence for a three-run home run to give BYU a 6-3 lead. Stephanie Ricketts then entered the game for UH in the circle. She gave up a single to start her appearance but came back to strike out the final two batters in the inning to get out of the inning.
 
In the third inning, UH threatened to score as Iwata started things with a double to right-centerfield and Alex Aguirre looped a shallow single into centerfield. Leisha Li`ili`i then drilled a ball off the centerfield fence for a long single. On the play Iwata tried to score from second but was gunned down at the plate for the first out of the inning. BYU's Hannah Howell then got a come-backer for the second out and then got the final out on a swinging strike out.
 
Hawai`i tried to rally again in the fourth inning on one out with Majam and Wartner reached on a beaned ball and a walk. BYU then lifted starter Howell for Tori Almond who finished the game. Almond then got a swinging strike out but Iwata came through with an RBI single up the middle that scored Majam from second base.
 
The sixth inning was the best scoring opportunity for UH. The 'Bows loaded the bases with no outs on a single by Majam and two walks to Wartner and Robinson. Iwata then came to the plate and hit a hard grounder to third. The third baseman snagged it and stepped on third and then threw home to tag out Majam for the unconventional double play. The Cougars then got out of the inning on the following at bat with a ground out to second.
 
Parnaby lasted just a third of an inning in her shortest start of her career. She gave up six runs on four hits with a walk and a strike out. Ricketts threw 5.2 shutout innings in relief. She gave up six hits with two walks and six strike outs.
 
BYU's Howell did not earn the win as she only threw 3.1 innings as the starter. She gave up four runs on eight hits with two walks and three strike outs. Almond raised her record to 18-3, shutting the 'Bows out for the final 3.2 innings. She gave up three hits with three walks and six strike outs.
 
Hawai`i out-hit BYU 11-to-10 and had at least one runner on base in every inning with UH stranding 11 runners—six of which were in scoring position.  Iwata led UH going 3-for-4 with a single, double, and home run and four RBI and Wartner was 2-for-2 with a run scored.
 
The Rainbow Wahine will return to play at 7:00 p.m. tonight against the winner of the Fresno State vs. Louisiana Tech on-going now.