FULLERTON, CALIF. - The University of Hawai`i softball team lost its first two games at the Kia Klassic losing to the host No. 9 Cal State Fullerton, 3-1, and then dropping the second game to No. 5 Washington, 5-2, at the Titan Softball Complex.
Hawai`i played well in game one taking an early 1-0 lead in the first inning. With runners at first and second, Stacey Porter hit a ground ball to second, CSF second baseman Crystal Medina went to first base, but CSF first baseman Jenny Topping then tried to throw to second to get the double play and hit the runner allowing Tracie Uchima to score the unearned run.
UH starter Melissa Coogan (11-3) made the lead stick until the fifth inning when the Titans tied it up on a Baltimore Chop in the infield by Julie Watson to drive home Medina.
Coogan went the distance allowing nine hits, while striking out seven and walking two. It was her first loss in her last nine desicions.
Hawai`i threatened in the sixth putting runners at first and second and no outs, but Titan starter Gina Oaks (11-3) struck out the next three batters to end the threat.
The Titans, who were the designated visitors, scored two more times in the top of the seventh on RBI singles by Jennifer Hold and Jodie Cox.
In the nightcap, No. 5 Washington scored five times in the first three innings off UH starter Shannon Tabion (3-6) as Husky starter Ashley Boek (12-1) struckout 12.
UW's Jamie Clark and Kathy Fiske homered in the first and second innings, respectively.
UW scored three times in the third to break the game open. Amanda Oleson led off the third with a single to center, Clark reached base on an error by first baseman Porter that allowed Oleson to score. UW's Kristen Rivera then hit a two-run shot to cap the scoring for the Huskies.
UH's Tabion lasted only 2.1 innings striking out five and walking none, but gave up all five runs on five hits (three homers).
Hawai`i's Paula Blanning came on after the homer to Rivera and went the final 3.2 innings striking out two and walking four.
The Rainbow Wahine got on the scoreboard in the sixth inning. With one out, CSF fielders committed two consecutive errors to allow both Uchima and Izumi to reach base. April Crowell picked up the only hit of the game by UH, a two-run single to left, to drive home Uchima and Izumi.
After the two losses, UH falles to 14-9 overall and 0-2 in the Kia Klassic Pool Play round. Hawai`i faces No. 4 Texas Friday before entering the single-elimination championship bracket.
