Box Score

HONOLULU - Junior outfielder Brandi Peiler cranked a grand slam over the leftfield fence to lift No.25 Hawai`i (13-3) over Kent State, 4-2. Pitcher Jessica Morton (4-0) got the win in relief. Hawai`i rebounded in the night cap after falling to No.22 Oregon earlier in Day One of the Pepsi Malihini Kipa Aloha Tournament at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

The Golden Flashes broke a scoreless game open in the top of the fifth. Brittany Robinson started the one out rally by reaching on a throwing error. The following batter, Jessica Toocheck smacked a double to leftfield to put both runners into scoring position. Corey Houk then hit a second straight double to score Robinson, but a good relay from left-to-short-to-catcher cut down Toocheck trying to score. But Jamie Fitzpatrick made sure KSU wasn't done yet by hitting a single to right to score Houck from second to push their lead to 2-0.

Hawai`i, who was out-hit by Kent State 6-to-3, mounted their rally in the bottom of the sixth. with one out, Clare Warwick got an infield single to short. She moved to second on a wild pitch. The next batter, Kaulana Gould drew a walk and two batters later, Audrey Andrade also got on board with a walk to load the bases. Peiler then stepped to the plate with two outs. She sent line drive over the leftfield fence on a full count pitch count to give UH the win, 4-2.

It was Hawai`i's fourth grand slam of the season and it was UH's sixth late inning comeback win of the season. The Rainbow Wahine now have 24 home runs on the season. Last year they set a new school season record with 42.

In the loss, Kent State's Robinson (3-2) struck out 13 Rainbow Wahine, and held them to three hits in six innings pitched.

For Hawai`i, Morton got her fourth relief win of the season. She threw the final 2.0 innings retiring 6-of-7 batters. She had one walk and two strike outs. Starter Courtney Baughman threw the first 5.0 innings, giving up the two runs on six hits with two walks and five strike outs.

Tomorrow, the Rainbow Wahine will take on St. Mary's at 4:00 pm followed by No.21 Georgia.

-UH-