HONOLULU-The University of Hawai'i softball team suffered its first loss of the season to the No. 14 Oregon Ducks, 10-2, Saturday afternoon at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. The Rainbow Wahine fell to 1-1 on the season in the season opening Oceanic Time Warner Cable Paradise Classic.
Redshirt freshman Jessica Morton got the start for Hawai`i, but after retiring the first two batters early in the inning, the next four hitters scored. A solid hit by Ashley Richards down the first base line scored Beth Boskovich and started the onslaught of runs. T.J. Eadus drove a two-out, two-run, bases clearing double off the right field fence. Kristi Jorgenson then doubled to the wall again, driving in Eadus for the fourth run of the first. Morton only lasted 2/3 of an inning, being lifted for Melissa Coogan who got the final out.
The hit parade continued for the Ducks in the bottom of second, with back to back hits to center by Breanne Sabol and Lovena Chaput. Dani Baird then hit a two-run dribbler to third that scored both runners. The final run of the inning came of a hit to left center gap by Richards that scored Baird.
Hawai`i tried to start a comeback in the top of the third. Jennifer Hackett led off the inning with a walk, and Kate Robinson moved her over with a single in the right-center gap. Alana Power then hit a sharp single to the left center gap that scored Robinson and Hackett. But Amy Harris settled things down and retired the next three in a row.
The Ducks added two more before scoring their final run in the bottom of the sixth. Eadus drove in her third run of the game with a single to left that scored Boskovich, pushing Oregon's lead to eight, and the game was called due to the mercy rule.
It was pitching by committee for the Rainbow Wahine, with Morton, Coogan, Shannon Tabion, and Paula Blanning all going on the mound. The Hawai`i staff surrendered 10 runs on 11 hits, including four doubles, three walks against five strikeouts. While Oregon's Harris picked up her first win of the season. She threw six innings, giving up five hits, two runs, two walks, and four strikeouts.
Next up for Hawai`i is a pair of games on the final day of the Oceanic Time Warner Paradise Classic, starting with a 12 p.m. face-off against No. 9 Washington, to be followed at 2 p.m. by a game against Jacksonville. Tournament action begins at 10 a.m. featuring a Pac-10 showdown between Oregon and Washington. All games are at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium, and admission is free.
Game Statistics
Other action in Day Three...
Oregon 5, Jacksonville 0
Oregon's Beth Boskovich broke open a close game with a two-run homer in the fourth, and pitcher Alicia Cook did the rest in shutting out Jacksonville, 5-0, in the opening game of day three. Cook pitched six innings of one-hit ball, walking none, while the potent combination of Boskovich and Breanne Sabol went a combined four-for-six with four RBI. For the game, Oregon out hit Jacksonville, 10-2.
Game Statistics
Jacksonville 2, IPFW 1
After being held scoreless through 15 tournament innings, Jacksonville took advantage of a bases-loaded walk and an error to score two runs in the fourth, and then held on for a 2-1 victory over IPFW. The Mastadons jumped ahead in the bottom of the first, as IPFW's Tierni Green scored on a single by Kari Butler. Jacksonville's Katie Buell settled down after that, giving up only three more hits and striking out five en route to the complete game victory.
Game Statistics
