Box Score
LAS VEGAS, Nev. - The No. 15 University of Hawai`i softball team (12-4) got back on the winning track with a 5-2 win over tournament host, UNLV (12-7-1). Senior pitcher
Jessica Morton (1-0) moved from reliever to starter tonight and got the job done with a complete game win over the Rebels.
Hawai`i got off to a fast start in the first inning. Number two hitter, Kaulana Gould started things off with a double to right-centerfield. Designated player, Audrey Andrade then hit a single to put runners at the corners. A wild pitch scored Gould from third. Then two batters later, with two outs, Brandi Peiler drilled a double past the UNLV leftfielder to score Andrade. Hawai`i was up 2-0 going into the bottom of the second.
The Rebels answered right back. In the bottom half of the first, Morton got the first two batters to strike out swinging. But then Jaci Hull hit a double to left, and Rosa Ordaz followed with a home run over the leftfield fence to knot the score at 2-2 after one complete inning.
Hawai`i responded quickly on a two out rally. Richie-Anne Titcomb started things with a single to center. Clare Warwick then drew a walk to put runners at first and second. Gould then drove in Titcomb from second with a single to left to take the lead back at 3-2.
In the third, Kate Robinson crushed a home run over the scoreboard in leftfield. It was her second home run of the tournament.
UNLV pitcher Stephanie Bregante then settled down and after holding UH scoreless in the fourth, she retired the next eight batters in a row. But Robinson snapped the string of outs with a single to left and two batters later, Julie Franklin drove her in with a double to the right-centerfield gap to push Hawai`i's lead to 5-2.
That was more than enough for Morton. After the home run in the first inning, Morton held the Rebels scoreless for the next 6.1 innings. On the game, she scattered six hits with one walk and seven strike outs. For Morton, who has primarily been used as a reliever the last two seasons, this was her first start since March 6, 2006 when she took a loss against Penn State.
Hawai`i will now face Pittsburgh tomorrow morning at 9:00 am in their final game of the tourney.
