Box Score
HONOLULU - Mercer's Katie Rosentreter scattered five hits over seven innings, to hand the University of Hawai'i softball team only its second shutout this year, 2-0, Thursday night at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
Hawai`i (7-7) had runners on in five of seven innings, but was unable to capitalize, stranding nine base runners.
Mercer (5-6) scored in the top of the first inning. The second batter Kelley Bretscher got on board after getting hit by a pitch. She moved to second on a ground ball to second, then came all the way home on a fielding error by the shortstop.
The Rainbow Wahine tried to respond in the bottom half of the inning. With one out, UH loaded the bases on two walks and an infield single, but Mercer pitcher Rosentreter struck out the side to squelch the potential rally.
Mercer extended their lead in the top of the sixth, Jamie Madruga hit a sharp single up the middle to lead off the inning. Kristin Talamantes then laid down a sacrifice bunt to push Madruga to second. She then scored from second on a base hit to right by Sarah Harding to make the score 2-0 in favor of the Bears.
That was all that Rosentreter needed to secure her fourth win of the season. She threw a complete game shut out, spacing five hits with three walks and seven strike outs.
For UH, Justine Smethurst threw a complete game as well, giving up two hits on just four hits, walking one and fanning eight.
On Friday, UH will face UC Riverside at 5:00 p.m. and Florida International at 7:00 p.m. in the nightcap.
-uh-
Scores from earlier games
No.8/9 California 9, Mississippi Valley State 0 (5 innings)
Haley Woods started right where she left off from last year's Malihini Kipa Aloha Tournament where she was the tourney MVP in 2005. She went 3-3 on the day, hitting two home runs in her first two at bats while driving in four runs. Pitcher Lauren Frankiewicz fired a no-hitter which almost a perfect game, but she walked the very first batter of the game. She struck out seven Delta Devils and retired 14 batters in a row.
For California, Emily Friedman was 2-2 with a run scored; Erika Racklin had a double; and Alex Sutton a home run.
-uh-
Florida International 7, UC Riverside 8
Florida International got on the scoreboard first, posting a single run in the top half of the first. With two out, Tabitha Embry hit a double down the third baseline. The following batter, Ashley Falk, came through with a clutch single to center to score Embry easily from second.
UC Riverside answered right back in the bottom of the first. FIU's pitcher Penny Eastman walked the first two batters of the game. She then retired Melissa Sanchez on a fly ball to center and Kristie Martinez struck out swinging. But then Eastman continued to have trouble with the strike zone, walking Cassie Greenawalt and then Jen Thompson, forcing a run home to knot the score at 1-1.
The Highlanders then broke the tie in the bottom of the third, scoring two runs to take the early lead. UCR's Martinez walked with one out, stole second, then came in on a fielding error on FIU's second baseman on a groundball hit by Cassie Greenawalt . Greenawalt advanced to second on a base hit to leftfield, and then scored on a sacrifice fly to right by Jessica Black to extend the UCR lead to 3-1.
The Golden Panthers then had an offensive onslaught in the top of the fifth. Samantha Card led the inning off with a walk. With one out, FIU strung together four straight hits, including a double by Falk. Add to that, three walks and two wild pitches and you have six run inning.
In the bottom of the sixth, UCR battled back. With two outs they started to rally, Angie Loa had a pinch hit up the middle. The next batter, Martinez was hit by a pitch, moving Loa to second. Greenawalt then got another single with a hit to right. FIU pitcher Kerri Houck then walked one run in. Jessica Black stepped up the plate and promptly hit a grand slam home run over the leftfield fence to push the Highlanders to a 8-7 lead over the Golden Panthers.
Stephanie Marshall got the win for UC Riverside in relief, throwing 2.2 innings giving up two runs on two hits with three walks with one strike out. Houck took the loss for the Golden Panthers, throwing 2.0 innings giving up five runs on three hits while walking two and striking out three.
-uh-
