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HONOLULU—The University of Hawai`i softball team (3-2, 0-0 Big West) split its games on the final day of the Oceanic Time Warner Cable Paradise Classic. Hawai`i rebounded after a heartbreaking loss on Friday night to overwhelm Hampton, 9-1 in five innings, but falling in the championship game to No. 13 UCLA, 4-1.

Hawai`i 9, Hampton 1 (5)
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Leisha Li`ili`i launched a career-high two home runs in UH's first game—a two-run laser-shot to right-centerfield and a three-run blast to right. She also tied her career-high with five RBI.  Heather Morales picked up her third win of the tournament, shutting down the Pirates with four no-hit innings.

The 'Bows jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead on Li`ili`i's first home run of the game in the first inning. The two-run drive got out of the park in a hurry on a line over the right-centerfield fence. It hit about  a third of the way up of the netting behind the field. The homer drove in Keiki Carlos who reached on an earlier in the inning on a double.
 
Hampton held UH off the scoreboard in the second, but in the third, the 'Bows attacked for four more runs. Dori Ann Sugai started the rally with a walk and moved to second on a Kayla Wartner ground out back to the pitcher. Carlos then drove in Sugai from second with an RBI single to left. Sharla Kliebenstein kept things going with a walk and then Li`ili`i stepped to the plate and promptly launched a three run home run over both fences to rightfield onto the pathway beyond the stadium. Li`ili`i's blast gave UH a 6-0 lead going into the top of the fourth.
 
Lindsey Willmon and pinch hitter Alyssa Villalpando got back-to-back hits to start the fourth inning. After a pop-up to short, Wartner was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Carlos then picked up her career-high, third hit of the game, ripping a two-run double down the leftfield line. Kliebenstein followed with a sacrifice fly to left that was caught in foul territory to give the 'Bows a 9-0 lead.
 
In the top of the fifth though, the Pirates scored their first run against the 'Bows. UH's Loie Kesterson entered the game in relief of Morales. Hampton started the inning off with Kayla DeSchepper drawing a walk. UH then go the next two outs on a ground out and a strike out. But Diamond Ponds broke up UH's bid for a no-hitter and she laced a single up the middle and Margaret Wilkins followed with a hard hit single in the hole at short to drive in DeSchepper to thwart UH's shut-out attempt.
 
Morales did not allow a hit in her four innings of work, with just one walk and three strike outs. Kesterson came in one inning of relieve allowing one run on two hits with a walk and a strike out.

Hampton's Jecholia Pratt threw all four innings, allowing nine runs on seven hits with three walks and two strike outs.
 
No. 16/13 UCLA 4, Hawai`i 1
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In the tournament's Championship Game, UCLA and Hawai`i squared off for the second straight night. UCLA came away victorious with a 4-1 win over Hawai`i. The game started similarly to last night's affair with both teams remaining scoreless through the first two innings. But in the bottom of the third, the Bruins got on the scoreboard first, posting one run on a sacrifice fly by Mysha Sataraka to score Ally Carda.
 
But Hawai`i would answer right back with a run of their own in the top of the fourth. Carlos started things with a sharp single up the middle. Wartner then pushed Carlos to second on a sacrifice bunt to third. A fly out to right-center allowed Carlos to tag and hustle into third. Li`ili`i then drove a single through the middle to score Carlos from third.
 
In the fifth, the 'Bows loaded the bases but came away empty. Kristina Akiona continued her hot hitting with a single drilled through the rightside of the infield. After a failed bunt attempt and a strike out, Kaile Nakao and Carlos both drew walks, but a fly out to left thwarted UH's offense.
 
On the flipside, the Bruins responded in the bottom of the frame, tacking on three more runs on an RBI single by Delaney Spaulding and a two-RBI double by tourney MVP, Alyssa Tiumalu.
 
Morales suffered her first loss of the season, giving up four runs on six hits in five innings. She had three walks and two strike outs. Kesterson closed the game, throwing the final inning. She gave up a hit and fanned one Bruin.
 
UCLA's Cardy threw 5.0 innings, giving up one run on three hits with a pair of walks and six strike outs. Paige McDuffy picked up her first save of the season, throwing 2.0 scoreless innings. She had one walk and one strike out in relief.
 
The Rainbow Wahine will now try their luck on their annual roadtrip to Las Vegas, Nev. to play in UNLV's Desert Classic, where they will play six games from Feb. 13-16. Hawai`i will take on UTEP, Florida, Seattle, Portland State, Utah and Nevada.
 
2014 Oceanic Time Warner Cable Paradise Classic All-Tournament Team
Brittney Noons, Delaware
Danielle Budden, Hampton
Taylor Clark, Hampton
Heather Morales, Hawai`i
Leisha Li`ili`i, Hawai`i
Lindsey Willmon, Hawai`i
Gracie Goulder, UCLA
Gabrielle Maurice, UCLA
Mysha Sataraka, UCLA
Delaney Spaulding, UCLA
Jessica Hall, UCLA
 
Most Valuable Pitcher – Ally Carda, UCLA
Most Valuable Player – Alyssa Tiumalu, UCLA