Box Score

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – The University of Hawai'i softball team (3-10) defeated No. 23 Ohio State, 4-2 at the Cathedral City Classic this afternoon at the Big League Dreams Sports Park complex's Pawtucket Field. Amanda Tauali'i lifted the 'Bows past the Buckeyes with a fifth inning grand slam while Courtney Baughman (3-5) earned the win in a complete game effort.

 

The Ohio State (10-2) jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first on two unearned runs. Leadoff batter Vanessa Spears reached on a throwing error on the shortstop, allowing her to scoot to second. Dee Dee Hillman then laid down a bunt base hit, putting runners at the corners. Sam Marder followed with a single to drive in Spears, but on the play, the middle runner was out at third. Courtney Pruner hit a sharp grounder to right, but Tanisha Milca threw her out at first. On the play, Marder advanced to third. Tory Haddad then drilled a single to the right-centerfield gap to score Marder for the 2-0 lead, after one complete inning.

 

After the single by Hadded in the first, Baughman settled down to hold the Buckeyes off the scoreboard for the rest of the game. In all, Baughman spaced eight hits, giving up the two runs with a walk and two strike outs. She was able to get  12 of the last 19 outs on either a pop-up, line out, or fly out. Baughman has earned all three of UH's wins and has thrown a team-high five complete games thus far.

 

The score remained the same until the top of the fifth, when the Hawai'I bats were awakened. Richie-Anne Titcomb and Milca started the inning with back-to-back singles. Julie Franklin then drew a walk to load the bases. Clare Warwick then hit a grounder to short who threw home to cut down Titcomb on the force. Tauali'I then stepped to the plate and launched an opposite-field grand slam home run to put Hawai'i ahead, 4-2. It marked Tauali'i's third home run of the roadtrip and season, it was her fifth of her career and first grand slam of her career.

 

Ohio State pitcher Kim Reeder, who is the reigning National Player of the Week (USA Softball/ESPN.com),  also threw a complete game, giving up the four runs on six hits with two walks and 12 strike outs. After the Tauali'i home run, Reeder righted the ship to retire the next eight batters in a row, with five of the outs coming on strike outs.

 
The Hawai'i win snapped the Buckeyes' six game win streak.

Hawai'i will play their final game of the tournament and the roadtrip tonight at 8:00 PST, when the 'Bows battle No. 1 Alabama on the Wrigley Field at the Big League Dreams Sports Park complex.


                                                                                                                                             

         -UH-