Box Score

LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Hawai`i (6-5) held No. 22 Oregon (5-3) at bay through four innings with a 1-0 lead. But in the fifth and sixth innings, the Ducks capitalized on walks, a crucial error, and timely hitting to pull ahead and defeat the Rainbow Wahine, 5-3 on the third day of the UNLV Desert Classic.

In the fourth inning, Brandi Peiler broke through a scoreless tie with a lead-off solo home run to right-centerfield, putting UH ahead 1-0. But that seemed to inspire an Oregon rally in the bottom of the fourth, but the Hawai`i defense held. With the bases loaded and one out, pitcher Paula Blanning got pinch hitter Kristi Leiter to hit a ground ball to shortstop Julie Franklin who gunned down the runner trying to score for out number two. Then their number nine hitter, Suzie Barnes hit a chopper to Blanning who got the out at first, thus thwarted the Duck rally.

Oregon, however battled back in the fifth to score two runs and take over the lead. The first run was scored by textbook offense. Leadoff hitter Sari-Jane Jenkins drew a walk, then was pushed to second on a sacrifice bunt executed by Breanne Sabol. The next batter, Lovena Chaput hit behind the runner for a base hit that allowed Jenkins to go to third. Jenkins then scored on a sacrifice fly to right field with Chaput moving to third on play. The next batter, Joanna Gail hit a fly ball to right, that went in and out of the glove of Hawaii's rightfielder allowing Chaput, who was running all the way because there were two outs, to score the go ahead run.

In the sixth, the Ducks mounted another rally, bringing nine batters to the plate. They scored three more runs to pad their lead. After two quick outs, Oregon got two runners on with a fielder's choice and a walk, placing runners at first and second. Pitcher Kate Robinson then entered the game in relief of Blanning to try to stem the momentum, but the first batter she faced drove a shot down the rightfield line for a two-run triple. She then walked the following batter, leaving runners at the corners for Gail, who promptly hit a shot up the middle to score Chaput from third. Another walk loaded the bases. Blanning re-entered the game with full base and two outs, and got the final batter to line-out to second base.

Down 5-1, UH tried to come back in the top of the seventh. Clare Warwick led the inning off with a pinch hit double over the leftfielder. Oregon relief pitcher Amy Harris then struck out the next two. With two outs, Hawai`i centerfielder Tanisha Milca hit a two-run home run, the first of her career, over the leftfield fence, cutting the lead to 5-3. But Harris was able to get the next batter to ground out to second for the final out of the game.

UH was led by Peiler 1-3 with a solo home run; Warwick who had a double in one at bat; and Tanisha Milca who was 1-3 with a home run and two RBI.

Oregon's Chaput lead their offense by going 3-4 with a triple and two runs scored; and Jenkins was 1-2 with two runs scored.

For Hawai`i, Blanning took her second loss on the season, throwing 6.0 innings giving up 4 runs (three were earned), four hits, seven walks and one strike out. Robinson threw to four batters, giving up two hits, one run and two walks.

The Rainbow Wahine now play Central Michigan at 2:30 at the Henderson Recreation Center fields.

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