Box Score
HONOLULU - No. 22 Washington scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to upend the No. 15 University of Hawai`i softball team (17-6), 8-6 in the Pepsi Malihini Kipa Aloha Tournament championship game today at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. Hawai`i was down 5-1 after four innings, but rallied to take the lead by scoring five runs in the top of the fifth, before falling to the Huskies in the sixth.
The Huskies (16-6-1) got a quick 3-0 lead on a three run home run just over the centerfield fence in the bottom of the first by Alicia Blake.
In the third, Hawai`i scored a single run to cut UW's lead to 3-1. Tanisha Milca led the inning off by beating out the throw for an infield single to third. Melissa Gonzalez Then got a looping single over the first baseman to put runners at first and second. Kaulana Gould followed with a little bleeder over the second baseman, but Gonzalez, who had to hold in case the ball was caught on the fly, was forced out at second by the rightfielder. But with runners at the corners, Kate Robinson then hit a grounder to the right side of the infield to push Milca across the plate.
The Huskies immediately responded, gettin the run back in the next half inning. Bailey Stenson started things with a double to the centerfield fence. After a ground out to third, Jace Williams came through with an RBI single to left to drive in Stenson from third. That knocked UH starter Jessica Morton out of the game after 2.1 innings. Gonzalez who had started the game at second, and then designated player, relieved Morton. She ended the rally by getting two quick outs to end the inning with UH trailing 4-1 after three complete innings.
In the fourth, UW tacked on another run when Stenson got an RBI single to left that drove in pinch runner Ashley Tuiasosopo from third to go up, 5-1.
But Hawai`i fought back in the next half inning. In the top of the fifth, UH scored five runs to overtake the Huskies, 6-5. Valana Manuma started the rally by hitting a ground ball to third, but the third baseman bobbled the grounder and Manuma reached safely on the error. Milca then hit another grounder to third. This time the third baseman tried to cut down Manuma at second, but the throw was dropped by the second baseman, leaving runners at first and second for Gonzalez. She then hit a single to short center to drive in Manuma from second. Gould then drilled a double to drive in both Manuma and Milca. On the play, Gould hustled to third as the throw went home from the outfield to try to get Milca coming to the plate. Robinson then got her second RBI of the game with an infield single to third that Gould came home on to take the lead, 6-5.
The Huskies would not fold though, in the bottom of the sixth, UW scored three runs to regain the lead and put the game away with just a half-inning to play. After two straight singles to start the inning by Alyson McWherter and Amanda Fleishman, Stenson popped up on a bunt attempt. Marnie Koziol then got a single to left to score McWherter from second. The throw home from the outfield was off-line and rolled away, allowing Fleishman to score on the play as well. Two batters later, with two outs in the inning, Morgan Stuart drilled a double to right-centerfield to score Koziol, and put UW up for good, 8-6.
Hawai`i used three pitchers in the game. Morton, the starter, threw 2.1 innings, giving up four runs on four hits with a walk and a strike out. Gonzalez then came in and threw 2.0 innings, giving up one run on four hits with a walk and a strike out. Courtney Baughman then came in to close the game, throwing the final 1.2 innings. she gave up three runs on four hits with one walk. Baughman took the loss, dropping her record to 8-3 on the season.
For Washington, Aleah Macon, earned her second complete-game victory over the Rainbow Wahine. She threw 7.0 innings, giving up six runs on eight hits with three walks and three strike outs.
Hawai`i will now have two days off before starting their fifth tourney of the season, the Chevron Spring Fling Tournament. The 'Bows will battle North Carolina, Texas, Texas Tech, and Maine from March 12-15 at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
2008 Pepsi Malihini Kipa Aloha All-Tournament Team
Pitcher: Jessica Morton, UH
Infielder: Shyenne Hussey, EKU
Infielder: Katie Wagner, SIU
Infielder: Kate Robinson, UH
Infielder: Melissa Gonzalez, UH
Infielder: Jena Handley, EKU
Outfielder: Marnie Koziol, UW
Outfielder: Tanisha Milca, UH
Outfielder: Saskia Kosterink, NL
At-Large: Megan Miller, ISU
Most Valuable Pitcher: Aleah Macon, UW
Most Valuable Player: Morgan Stuart, UW
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