A dominant relief effort from redshirt freshman
Jessica Morton allowed the Hawaii softball team to battle back from six runs down to beat the No.9 Washington Huskies on the last day of the Oceanic Time Warner Cable Paradise Classic.
The powerful Washington squad came out of the gates fast, posting a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Tournament MVP Kristin Rivera drove a single off the centerfield fence to score Dominique Lastrapes. A double to right-centerfield by Aimee Minor drove in Ashley Charters and a Kirsten L'Heureux single to centerfield scored two more runs to end the inning.
The Huskies added two runs in the second inning when Kathy Fiske sent a shot over the fence for a two-run home run.
In the top of the fourth, Hawaii started their comeback. Sophomore first baseman Tyleen Tausaga scored UH's first run of the game on a wild pitch. It was the first run Washington allowed in the entire tournament.
Morton (1-1) started the bottom of the fourth in relief and proceeded Morton proceeded to stymie the Huskies' potent offensive attack, shutting them down. She gave up three hits, walked one, and struck out three in four innings of work.
In the top of the fifth, Hawai'i's Noelle Izumi drew a two-out walk and junior shortstopAshley Ruff hit an RBI double to right-center field to make the score 6-2. In the sixth, the Rainbow Wahine closed the gap to 6-4 when freshman catcherLouise Harriden sent a two-run home run over the wall.
But it was the seventh inning that provided the most fireworks. Ruff led off the inning with a single up the middle. Tara Harbert then reached on a single to first, advancing Ruff to second. A groundout by Kate Robinson moved Ruff and Harbert into scoring position with two outs. Kristi Yoshizawa then hit a looping double into shallow leftfield that Kailyn Ellinger dove for on a dead run, but was unable to squeeze it for the final out. The hit scored Ruff and Harbert and tied the game at 6-6. Yoshizawa then advanced to third on a passed ball, and scored the winning run on a wild pitch.
Caitlin Noble, who pitched the complete game for the Huskies, took the loss. She gave up seven runs, eight hits, five walks, and had 14 strike outs.
The Rainbow Wahine now head to Las Vegas, NV where they will play in UNLV's Desert Classic from Feb. 11-13. Hawaii will face the Utah Utes on Feb. 11 at 12:30 pm.
2005 OCEANIC TIME WARNER CABLE
HAWAI`I PARADISE CLASSIC ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Pitchers: Alicia Cook, Oregon; Ashley Boek, Washington
Catcher: Kacie Stone, IPFW
Infielders: Kathy Fiske, Washington; Kristi Yoshizawa, Hawai`i; Ashley Ruff, Hawai`i; and Breanne Sabol, Oregon
Outfielders: Stephanie Farabee, Jacksonville; Dani Baird, Oregon; Jacki Hanson, Washington
Most Valuable Player: Kristen Rivera, Washington
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