HONOLULU - The University of Hawai`i split a pair of games today in the 6th Chevron Paradise Classic at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

UH behind the shutout pitching of Melissa Coogan (2-1) blanked Mercer University, 5-0.

UH got on the board in the bottom of the first inning as Natalie Gonzales led off the game with a double to the left centerfield gap. She moved to second on Tracie Uchima's sacrifice bunt. Kate Judd then walked as Stacey Porter drove home Gonzales on a single to left. Mercer committed two errors in the bottom of the first, the second came off the bat of April Crowell that scored Judd.

UH went up 4-0 with two more runs in the fourth as they collected four hits highlighted by a double steal of home and Gonzales' RBI single to left.

UH's capped the scoring in the fifth as Porter led off the inning with a solo blast to right center field.

Coogan went the distance scattering five hits while striking out three.

In the nightcap, Long Beach State outlasted UH, 4-2, scoring two runs in the fifth to break a two-all tie.

UH's Sheri Oronoz (4-2) lost for the second time this season to the 49ers as she lasted only 4.2 innings giving up all seven hits and four runs while walking one and striking out one. She was relieved by Shannon Tabion who was sharp over the final 1.1 innings striking out three.

LBSU's Meredith Cervenka (7-1) went all the way striking out three and walking three while allowing only four UH hits.

Long Beach State (11-4) ran its record to 3-0 in the tournament, while UH fell to 7-4 overall and 2-1 in tourney play.

Today concluded the "Pool Play" format, the final two days will be a double-elimination format.

The schedule for Saturday begins at 10 a.m. with #2 Hawai`i taking on #3 Texas-Arlington. That game follows at Noon with #1 Long Beach State battling #4 Mercer. The loser from each game will play at 2 p.m. with the winners from each of the first two games playing at 4 p.m.