Box Score
HONOLULU - The No. 20/16 University of Hawai`i softball team (31-11, 7-1 WAC) came back from a three-run deficit, scoring five runs in the bottom of the sixth to seal the sweep of the doubleheader and the conference series over San Jose State, 9-6. Senior relief pitcher
Jessica Morton (5-2, 1-1 WAC) earned the win for the 'Bows, while SJSU reliever Jennifer Ames (4-6) took the loss.
For head coach, Bob Coolen, the win marked his 700th career victory. His overall record now stands at 700-471-1 and at Hawai`i, he carries a 628-378-1 record. The win also keeps Hawai`i atop the WAC standings with a 7-1 conference record. Rallying back to win, from three runs down in the sixth inning, marked the biggest come back of the season for the 'Bows.
For the first time in the series, the Spartans scored first, jumping out to a quick 1-0 lead. Elizabeth Perez started the game off with a single to left. Perez stole second then moved to third on another single to left off the bat of Sarah Taylor. Kelli Fangonilo then hit a foul-fly ball to leftfield for a sacrifice fly that drove in Perez from third.
Hawai`i tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the second. Kate Robinson drew a walk to start the inning off. She was pushed to second on a sacrifice bunt executed by Clare Warwick. After a ground out to third, first baseman Audrey Andrade came through with a clutch RBI single to drive in Robinson from second.
SJSU countered in the top of the third with two runs of their own. Perez started the rally again on a single to left with one out in the inning. Taylor followed with a double down the leftfield line. Then, with both runners in scoring position, Fangonilo picked up her second RBI of the game with a single to left to score Perez. Brittany McConnell came to the plate and hit a single to centerfield to score Taylor to extend their lead to 3-1. The hit chased UH starting pitcher, Robinson from the game and Morton took over the reings.
In the bottom of the third, Hawai`i fought back, knotting the game at 3-3. Tanisha Milca started the inning with a sharp single to left. Kaulana Gould then hit into a fielder's choice to second for the inning's first out. Brandi Peiler then hit an opposite field single to right to put runners at first and second for Robinson. A wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position and Robinson came through with a single to center to score Gould from third. Warwick then hit a nubber of a check-swing that ended in front of the catcher. The catcher threw to first to get Warwick out, but pinch-runner, Kanani Warren broke on the throw to first and slid through the catcher as she dropped the ball to score Hawai`i's second run of the inning.
In the top of the fifth, the Spartans scored three unearned runs as they tried to put the 'Bows away. Taylor started the inning with a single up the middle. Fangonilo then hit into a fielder's choice back to Morton who turned to get the lead runner at second. A fielding error at third allowed McConnell to reach first safely, putting runners at first and second. Kayla Hays then hit a ground ball to second baseman Richie-Anne Titcomg who tried to get the lead runner at third but her throw was high and Fangonilo tried to score on the overthrow. Third baseman, Warwick, picked up the errant throw and tried to get Fangonilo at the plate, but her throw was also wild and with the ball ricocheting around the backstop, McConnell hustled around the bases and scored the second run on the play. Hays, who had advanced all the way to third on the play, then scored on a sacrifice fly to right by Dannielle Brown, giving SJSU a 6-3 lead going into the bottom of the fifth.
In the bottom half of the inning, SJSU got the first two outs quickly, but then Warwick launched her third home run of the year over the left-centerfield fence to cut the Spartans lead to 6-4.
In the sixth, UH erupted for five runs. It all started when Titcomb drew a lead off walk. San Jose State starter, Deanna Mauer was then pulled for reliever Jennifer Ames. The first batter she faced was Kathryn Grimes who hit a single to left. Milca hit into a fielder's choice to short who got Titcomb out at third. A wild pitch moved Grimes to third then Gould hit a ground ball back to the pitcher, Ames. Ames tried to pick Grimes off at third, but was unsuccessful. That left the bases loaded for Peiler, who hit into another fielder's choice to short. SJSU shortstop Fangonilo got Grimes out at home, but the bases were still loaded. Robinson then stepped to the plate a hit a solid drive up the middle to drive in both Milca and Gould. Warwick followed by hitting a ground ball to third, but on the play, the first baseman lost the thrown ball in the sun as it sailed past her to the first base fence. On the play, Peiler hustled home from second, Robinson moved all the way to third, and Warwick ended up at second. Valana Manuma then hit a one-hopper that deflected off the pitcher for a single that scored Robinson, and left runners at the corners. Hawai`i then executed a double steal, allowing Warwick to score from third. After all the dust settled, Hawai`i was up, 9-6 with just the seventh inning to play.
The Spartans tried to mount a rally of their own in the top of the seventh. After two outs on a ground ball back to the pitcher and a strike out, SJSU got two singles back-to-back, but Morton closed the game out when Nicole Wells hit a line drive that was snared by Warwick at third to end the game.
Robinson did not figure in the decision, but she started the game, throwing 2.1 innings. She gave up three runs on seven hits with a strike out. Morton fired the remaining 4.2 innings, giving up three unearned runs on five hits with no walks and three strike outs.
The Rainbow Wahine now head on the road for a pair of important conference series starting at No. 25 Nevada, April 19 - 20. The 'Bows then have a mid-week doubleheader at Santa Clara on Wednesday, April 23 before facing No. 13 Fresno State on Friday, April 25 and Saturday, April 26.
