HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i softball team (11-16) split it's two games tonight, losing their first game, 6-1 to Radford and then bouncing back to defeat Memphis, 5-3 in a rain-shortened game. In the first game, Makani Duhaylonsod-Kaleimamahu (0-1) took the loss, and in the second, Stephanie Ricketts (6-5) earned the win highlighted by Amanda Tauali`i's first career grand slam.

 

Box Score

The Highlanders took an early 2-0 lead to start the game. After getting the first two outs, the 'Bows gave up a double off the bat of Sarah Himan to left, and then a home run to center by Nichole Beall.

 

In the fourth Radford extended their lead to 3-0 on a solo home run to left-centerfield by Shannon Keefe.

 

Radford tacked single runs in the fourth and sixth innings and then pulled away by scoring two more in the top of the sixth.

 

In the bottom of the seventh, #Kanani Pu`u-Warren# drilled a line-shot home run over the left-centerfield fence.

 

UH starter Makalani Duhaylonsod-Kaleimamahu threw the first 3.2 innings of the game, giving up four runs on five hits with a strike out, while Stephanie Ricketts closed the games' final 3.1 innings, yielding three runs on six hits with a walk and a pair of strike outs.

 

The 'Bows had runners on in every inning but the third, but were unable to capitalize as the Highlanders were able to turn four double plays.

 

The Rainbow Wahine jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead in the top of the first. Tanisha Milca led the game off with a single up the middle and Clare Warwick followed with a walk to put runners at first and second. Makani Duhaylonsod-Kaleimamahu then hit a grounder to short. On the play, the shortstop attempted to tag the runner, but missed Milca, leaving the bases loaded for #Amanda Tauali`i who promptly hit a grand slam high over the rightfield fence. The inning continued with Kanani Pu`u-Warren# hitting another single up the middle. Pu`u-Warren later came home with two outs, on a single by Katie Grimes to put UH up 5-0.

 

In the bottom half of the inning the Tigers answered right back to load the bases with no outs. Lead off batter Lelani Bernardino hit a grounder to short, but a fielding error allowed her to reach second. Brittany Gooch followed with a bunt single and Leila Dolfo walked to load the bases full of Tiger runners. Ricketts then settled down to get the next two batters on swinging strike outs. But Kamri Chester came through with a clutch single to right to drive in Bernardino from third to cut the lead to 5-1.

                                                                                                                        

Ricketts struck out the first batter she faced in the bottom of the second, but then gave up a double to the right-centerfield gap by Nikki Moreno and Bernardino followed with a walk. The 'Bows then turned an unconventional double play with Ricketts striking out Gooch and the runner at second got caught between second and third and was thrown out at third from Grimes to shortstop Richie-Anne Titcomb, who was covering the bag for the third out of the inning.

 

In the bottom of the fourth, the Tigers cut the lead to 5-3. Maddie McKinley hit a single up the middle and then Jessica Phillips followed with a high home run over the leftfield fence.

 

Memphis reliever Vanessa Walle came into the game in the second inning and settled the Tigers down retiring the first seven batters she faced in a row before issuing a walk. She ended up just giving up one hit in her relief appearance, a double by Duhaylonsod-Kaleimamahu. Walle threw 4.0 innings with a walk. The Tigers' starter Kimber Bossom (5-2) took the loss, giving up five runs on four hits with a walk and a strike out.

 

For Hawai'i, Ricketts earned the win, throwing her ninth complete game of the season and career. She gave up three runs on five hits with a pair of walks and six strike outs.