Box Score

HONOLULU - The University of Hawai`i softball team (1-2) mounted a late comeback, but it was not enough as No. 19/17 LSU (2-1) held off the 'Bows for a 6-5 win on the second day of the Oceanic Time Warner Cable Paradise Classic at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

LSU score early, posting three runs in the bottom of the first. The first came on an RBI single by Rachel MItchell that drove in Kirsten Shortridge from third. The next batter, Juliana Santos then drove a two run homer over the centerfield fence. UH got the second out of the inning on a pop up to short, but LSU got a double and a single to put runners at the corners, but Hawai`i pitcher Courtney Baughman got the final out on a fly to right.

In the second, errors cost the 'Bows the fourth run of the game. Shortridge reached on a single to short. She then stole second, but on the play an errant throw from the catcher allowed her to advance to third, and she then scored after the centerfielder couldn't cover the throw.

Hawai`i fought back, chipping away at the Tigers' lead. In the top of the fourth, Malamaisaua Manuma started a two-out rally with a single to right-centerfield. Audrey Andrade then drew a walk. Mikalemi Tagab-Cruz then hit a ground ball to second, the throw bounced to the first base fence, allowing Manuma to score from second, cutting the deficit to 4-1.

The following inning, Tanisha Milca scored off an RBI single by Melissa Gonzalez to tighten the score to 4-2.

But LSU tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the sixth. With two outs, Jazz Jackson reached first safely on a squibber back to the pitcher. She came all the way around to score off a double to centerfield by Mitchell. UH freshman pitcher, Stephanie Ricketts then then entered the game in relief. Santos capped her night off by hitting the second double in a row to the right-centefield gap that moved Mitchell to third. A wild pitch then allowed Mitchell to score from third, pushing LSU's lead to 6-2.

Hawai`i then mounted a furious comeback. Milca started the inning with a single that ricocheted off of the pitcher. After a fly out to right, Warwick laced a single to center to put runners at first and second. Gonzalez then launched a three-run home run over the leftfield fence to close to gap to 6-5. But LSU pitcher Casey Faile then got the second out of the inning on a strike out and ended the game on a ground out to third.

Hawai`i's Baughman (1-1) took the loss, giving up six runs on 13 hits with three strike outs. Ricketts gave up a hit and got the final out of the sixth inning.

LSU's Faile (1-1) earned a complete game win, yielding five runs on seven hits with four walks and three strike outs.

The OTWC Paradise Classic concludes on Saturday with the following schedule.

Saturday, February 7
10:00 am - No. 2 Seed LSU vs. No. 3 seed UAB
12:00 pm - No. 1 Seed Oklahoma vs. No. 4 seed Hawai`i
2:00 pm - **Due to travel constraints, LSU will play either the third place or championship game at 2:00 pm
4:00 pm - Third place/Championship Game


                                                                                                                                            -UH-