Box Score

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. - The University of Hawai'i softball team (2-10) fell to No. 9/10 Tennessee, 3-2, on the second day of the Cathedral City Classic. The Lady Vols (12-1) executed a suicide squeeze in the bottom of the seventh to win the game.

Hawai'i's freshman pitcher, Stephanie Ricketts (0-2), had a strong outing in the loss. She threw a complete game, spacing nine hits and striking out nine batters with no walks.

Tennessee's Ashton Ward got the start on the mound, throwing the first two-and-two-thirds innings. She did not give up any runs, but issued two walks while fanning three. Reliever Cat Hosfield entered the game in the third inning and earned the win. Hosfield fired the final four-and-a-third innings giving up two runs on three hits with one walk and six strike outs.

The Lady Vols got off to a good start, posting two runs in the bottom of the first. The inning started with Ricketts getting a pair of swinging strike outs. Tiffany Huff then started the two-out rally with an infield single to short. The next batter, Jessica Spigner was hit by the pitch, putting runners on first and second. A wild pitch pushed both runners into scoring position for Shelby Burchell, who came through with a single up the middle driving in both runners for an early 2-0 lead.

Tennessee's pitching combo of Ward and Hosfield held the Rainbow Wahine at bay through the first five innings. The latter pitcher, Hosfield, retired the first eight batters she faced.

 

But Hawai'i would fight back, erupting for two runs in the top of the sixth. First, Clare Warwick drilled a solo home run down the leftfield line. Amanda Tauali'i follwed by hitting a bomb to center, but the Tennessee centerfielder ran through the fence to snare it, stealing the homer and preventing the game's tying run. The very next batter, freshman designated player, Makani Duhaylonsod-Kaleimamahu then launched her first collegiate home run over the leftfield fence that knotted the score at 2-2.
  
Hawai'i had things going again in the top of the seventh, but came away empty handed. Katie Grimes started teh inning with a single up the middle and was followed by Dara Pagaduan who drew a walk. With two runners on and one out, the Lady Vols settled down, getting a fly out to center and a swinging strike out to squelch the rally.

Tennessee responded in the bottom of the seventh. Ashley Andrews led the inning off with a sharp single down the leftfield line. Andrews proceeded to steal second and then moved to third on an infield single by Kelly Grieve, leaving Lady Vols at the corners. Lillian Hammond then executed a suicide squeeze, scoring Andrews from third to end the game.

 

Tomorrow, Hawai'i will play their final two games of the Cathedral City Classic at the Big League Dreams Sports Park facility. First, the 'Bows square off with No. 23 Ohio State Buckeyes at 3:00 pm on the Pawtucket Field. Then, at 8:00 pm, UH will battle the top-ranked team in the country, Alabama, on the complex's Wrigley Field.


                                                                                                                                                  -UH-