Box Score

HONOLULU - The No. 21 Georgia Bulldogs (14-7) erupted for five runs in the top of the seventh to stun the upset minded No. 25 Rainbow Wahine, 7-4. Georgia improved to 3-1 in the Pepsi Malihini Kipa Aloha Tournament, while UH fell to 2-2 after splitting today's games. Play continues tomorrow at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

The game was a hard fought battle that saw four lead changes. Hawai`i had the lead, 4-2 going into the top of the seventh, but the Bulldogs had five hits in the final frame, including back-to-back doubles and a two-run home run to propel themselves to the win.

Early in the game, UG scored first, posting a single run in the top of the second. Christie Hamilton led the inning off with a double down the leftfield line. She moved to third on a passed ball and scored on a single to center by Alison Horne.

In the bottom of the third, Hawai`i answered, taking the lead, 2-1. Kaulana Gould started the rally with a single to right. Tyleen Tausaga drew a walk and then pitcher Kate Robinson hit a ground ball to third that was misplayed to load the bases. Brandi Peiler then stepped up and hit a single to right to score Gould from third. Valana Manuma then hit a grounder to third who got the out at home, but left the bases loaded for Alana Power who drew a walk to force the innings second run across the plate.

Georgia responded in the top of the fifth. With two outs, speedster Sojourner Moody reached safely on an infield single. Kellie Middleton then hit a double down the leftfield line, scoring Moody from second to tie the game at 2-2.

In the bottom half of the inning, Hawai`i's Peiler came through with a two-run home run to deep centerfield to jump out to a 4-2 lead after five complete innings.

But in the top of the seventh, things started to unravel for the Rainbow Wahine. The Bulldogs got two quick hits to lead the inning off by Moody and Middleton. UH pitcher Jessica Morton then came in relief of starter Kate Robinson and got the first batter to foul fly to first for the first out of the inning. Melissa Wood then stepped up to the plate and hit a double over the rightfielder to drive in both Moody and Middleton to tie the score at 4-4. Then Hamilton hit her second double of the game to right center, driving in Wood from second for the go-ahead run. But then Horne added insurance runs when she drilled a two-run home run over the left-centerfield fence for what proved to be an insurmountable three run lead going into the bottom of the seventh.

Both starting pitchers in the game did not figure in the decision. For Hawai`i, Robinson started the game and threw the first 6.0 innings. She gave up 11 hits and four runs with a walk and a strike out. Morton dropped to 5-1 after throwing one inning. She gave up three runs on three extra-base hits.

For Geogia, Kasi Carroll threw the first 4.1 innings before giving way to Hamilton. Carroll gave up four runs on six hits with four walks and two K's. Hamilton (3-3) threw the last 2.2 innings and gave up no runs and only one hit with two walks and a strike out.

Hawai`i's Peiler led the offense, going 4-for-4 with a two-run home run.

Tomorrow, the bracket play portion of the tournament starts. The schedule is as follows:

12:00 pm - Game 1 - No. 3 Seed Hawai`i vs. No. 4 seed Kent State

2:00 pm - Game 2 - Winner Game No.1 vs. Georgia

4:00 pm - Game 3 - No. 1 Seed Oregon vs. No. 5 Seed St. Mary's

-UH-