Box Score

HONOLULU - The No. 15 University of Hawai`i softball team (15-5) fell to No. 22 Washington, 3-2 on the third day of the 2008 Pepsi Malihini Kipa Aloha Tournament. The Huskies' Alyson McWherter hit a high-chopper over UH's third baseman to drive in the winning run in the bottom of the seventh.

Hawai`i scored in the top of the first for an early 1-0 lead. With one out, Clare Warwick was hit by at pitch and she advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kaulana Gould. Kate Robinson then got an infield single hit to second to put runners on the corners. Hawai`i then had a double steal, with Robinson getting caught in a run-down between first and second long enough for Warwick to score.

The score remained 1-0 until the bottom of the sixth, when Washington rallied for two runs to take the lead. McWherter drilled a double to left field. After a pop-up to the catcher, Bailey Stenson hit a hard grounder to the pitcher's right. UH shortstop Valana Manuma was able to make a nice diving stop, holding the runners to the corners. Marnie Koziol then laid down a bunt to the pitcher, but no play was made and the bases became loaded. Jace Williams hit a line drive to centerfield, but Gould fired it back in to prevent the run from scoring. With the bases still loaded, catcher's interference was called, which gave the batter first base to force UW's first run across the plate. Then a wild pitch allowed Stenson to score the go-ahead run.

The Rainbow Wahine anwered right back in the top of the seventh. Malamaisaua Manuma led the inning off with a walk. Valana Manuma then executed a sacrifice bunt back to the pitcher. But on the play third base was left open a little while and Malamaisaua Manuma took advantage, hustling to third and knocking the ball away from the UW third baseman. Melissa Gonzalez then got an infield single to short and moved into second while UW tried to pick off M. Manuma who was caught in a run down. Julie Franklin then entered the game as a pinch hitter and was hit by the pitch to load the bases. Tanisha Milca then hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield that scored M. Manuma from third to knot the score at 2-2.

But the Huskies responded in the bottom half of the inning. Alicia Blake starte the inning with a single to left and moved to second on a wild pitch. After a strike out, McWherter then came through with a chopper that bounced over Warwick at third to score Blake with the walk-off hit.

Hawai`i's Courtney Baughman threw the complete game, picking up her second loss of the season. She retired the first 11 Huskies in a row to start the game. Baughman gave up three runs (two earned) on six hits with no walks and two strike outs.

For Washington, Aleah Macon earned the complete-game win, raising her record to 5-3. She gave up two runs on four hits with three walks and four strike outs.

Hawai`i finishes the "pool play" portion of the tournament with their last game of the day against Idaho State.