Ricketts, a freshman for the Rainbow Wahine, threw 7.1 innings, striking out a career-high 11 batters. Ricketts scattered four hits, walked five, and did not allow any extra base hits in the loss. The potent Crimson Tide offense had been hitting .369 as a team this season, with 12-of-16 of their players hitting over .300 in 2009. Ricketts performed like a veteran in just her third start of her collegiate career. Unfortunately, all three of Ricketts' complete game efforts thus far this season have been losses of the one-run variety to a scrappy Oregon team, the No. 9 Tennessee Lady Vols, and now, the top-ranked team in the nation, Alabama.

 

Alabama's Morgan, threw the first 7.0 innings, spacing six hits with two walks and 10 strike outs in her effort. Dunne served as the reliever, entering the game in the eighth. She earned the win, firing one shut-out inning, allowing no hits with a walk and a pair of strike outs.

 

Both teams had a few opportunities to score with each team leaving 10 on bases. But both pitchers bore down and both defenses rose to the occasion to shut the opposition down.

 

In the fourth, UH mounted a rally, starting with a leadoff double down the leftfield line by Clare Warwick. Amanda Tauali'i followed with a single to first to put runners at first and second. After a strike out, Mikalemi Tagab-Cruz drew a walk to load the bases, but Taualii then got picked-off at second and 'Bama's Morgan stopped the rally by inducing a pop-up to short.

 

In the top of the eighth, Hawai'i threatened again. Tanisha Milca was placed on second due to the international tie-breaker. After a failed bunt attempt popped out, Warwick, who was 2-for-3, was intentionally walked, then Taualii was hit by the pitch to load the bases. Then, Alabama's Dunne settled down to strike out the next two 'Bows to end the inning.

 

The winning and only run of the game came in the bottom of the eighth. With the international tie-breaker in effect, Kelley Montalvo was placed on second as Whitney Larsen led the inning off with a ground out to short. Pinch hitter Cassandra Reilly-Boccia then walked and Montalvo advanced to third on a wild pitch to put runners at the corners. Amanda Locke then came through with a clutch single to short to drive in Montalvo to end the game with the winning run.

 

For Hawai'i, the 1-0 loss was the sixth one-run loss of the season—four of them dealt by Top 25 teams (No. 6 Oklahoma, No. 17 LSU, No. 9 Tennessee, and now No. 1 Alabama). UH's only other extra inning game this season was a nine-inning loss to No. 17 LSU in UH's opening tournament.

 

The Rainbow Wahine now return home and will play Tokyo in an exhibition game this Thurs, Feb. 26 at 6:00 pm. Then the Bank of Hawaii Invitational, featuring Tokyo, Mount St. Mary's, and Western Carolina begins and runs from Feb. 27 – March 1.


                                                                                                                                                      -UH-