HONOLULU - The Hawai`i softball team (27-20, 8-5 WAC) defeated Louisiana Tech, 7-1 in a WAC game tonight at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. Melissa Coogan (14-9, 5-3 WAC) got the complete game victory. She spaced six hits, gave up one run, walked one batter, and struck out six Lady Techsters. Lindsey Meadows got the loss for La Tech, also throwing a complete game. She gave up seven runs on 12 hits, walked four and struck out one.

Hawai`i jumped out to an early lead, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Catcher Denise Dahlberg reached safely on a bunt single. After stealing second, leftfielder Kaulana Gould then ripped a triple to the rightfield fence to score Dahlberg from second. First baseman Tyleen Tausaga then stepped up and hit a looping single over the outstretched arm of the Lady Techsters' shortstop into leftfield to score Gould from third easily.

In the second, UH added another run when designated player Valana Manuma reached on a walk to start the inning. Noelle Izumi moved Manuma to second on a sacrifice bunt. Manuma then eventually went to third on a passed ball and later scored on a wild pitch to make the score 3-0.

Tara Harbert scored Hawai`i's fourth run of the game in the fourth inning. Harbert reached first on a fielder's choice with two outs on the inning. She then picked up her 12th stolen base of the year. Next Tracie Uchima was hit by a pitch, which left runners on first and second with two outs.. Dahlberg then hit hard hit double to left, scoring Harbert from second.

La Tech's first run of the game came in the top of the sixth. Sandburg led the inning off with a double to the right-center gap. Two batters later, Clark hit another double to the same gap to score Sandburg from second. The next batter, Meadows reached on a fielding error, leaving runners at first and second with one out. But Coogan beared down, and with a good mix of pitches, struck out the next two Lady Techsters to squelch the rally.

In the bottom of the sixth, Hawai`i pulled away by scoring three more runs. Kristi Yoshizawa hit her second double of the year over the leftfielder to lead the inning off. She moved to third on a sacrifice bunt executed by Harbert. Two batters later, Dahlberg picked up her second RBI of the night with a single to second that scored Yoshizawa from third. Gould walked next, moving Dahlberg into scoring position. Tausaga then hit a single to left. Because there were already two outs, Dahlberg was off at the crack of the bat and scored from second standing up. Next, Ashley Ruff hit a single to rightfield that scored Gould from second, making the final score 7-1 in favor of Hawai`i.

On offense, Hawai`i was led by Dahlberg who went 3-4, with a double, two runs scored and two RBI; Gould was 2-3 with a triple, a walk, two runs scored and one RBI; Tausaga was 2-4 with two RBI; Yoshizawa was 2-3 with a double, and Uchima was 2-3 with a double.

For Louisiana Tech (18-13, 2-5 WAC), they were led by Sandberg who was 2-3 with a double and a run scored; and Clark had a double while going 1-2.

The two teams face-off again tomorrow in a doubleheader starting at 2:00 pm.

Youth League Promotion
The first 100 youth league softball players (13 years old and under), who wear their team jersey when attending one of the UH softball team's WAC games against Louisiana Tech on April 22 and 23, will receive a free ticket to one of the baseball team's contests against Nevada, April 28-30. Admission to UH softball games is free.

Game statistics