Box Score

HONOLULU - Oklahoma State pitcher Jessica Hoppock held Hawai`i (14-11) to a pair of singles, didn't allow a runner past second base, and only faced 26 batters in the game. The knockout punch came in the top of the seventh, when Kim Kay hit a three run home run to give OSU a 5-0 win in UH's third game of the Bank of Hawaii Invitational at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

The Cowgirls took the early lead in the top of the third, scoring a single run to go up 1-0. Krystle Sanchez led the inning off with a single to left. Candice Byler then came in to pinch run, and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Lacy Darity. Shanel Scott then came up to bat and hit a single to center to score Byler from second. But on the play, the back runner, Scott was thrown out at second by centerfielder Kaulana Gould when she tried to extend her hit into a double.

OSU scored another run to make the score 2-0 in the top of the sixth. With one out, Shallan Watson got a hit to left. The next batter, Ashlyn Watson, drew a walk to put runners at first and second. UH pitcher Courtney Baughman was then relieved by Jessica Morton. The first batter she faced got a sharp hit right back to the pitcher to load the bases for Sanchez who collected her second hit of the game to left field to score Watson from third. But leftfielder Brandi Peiler's sailed over the third baseman and ricocheted off the backstop. Kristi Yoshizawa hustled to pick it up and threw it to Tyleen Tausaga who tagged out Ashlyn Watson who was trying to score on the overthrow.

Then in the seventh, Kay hit the three run bomb to end the scoring for the Cowgirls.

Hawai`i used a trio of pitchers tonight. Baughman took the loss, dropping her record to 4-3 on the season. She threw 5.1 innings, giving up two runs on eight hits with a walk and four strike outs. Morton threw 1.0 innings and gave up three runs on five hits. Kate Robinson came in relief of Morton in the top of the seventh to get the final two outs with a ground out and a strike out swinging.

Only Tausaga and third baseman Clare Warwick were able to get a hit off the elusive Hoppock. Malamaisaua Manuma who drew a walk in the third inning, was the only Hawai`i runner to reach second when she stole the base.

Hawai`i will now face Big 12 team Kansas tomorrow at 4:00 p.m. in the third day of competition of the Bank of Hawaii Invitational.

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