Box Score

SAN JOSE, Calif.—The University of Hawai'i softball team battled hard, scoring two runs in the seventh,  but eventually fell just short to San Jose State, 5-4. The Spartans scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth and then held on for the win at SJSU Field this afternoon. Dara Pagaduan led Hawai'i on offense, going 3-for-3 at the plate with three RBI, a triple, and a run scored.

 

The loss snapped UH's five game win streak. The 'Bows fell to 20-21 on the season and 8-5 in conference action, while the Spartans raised their record to 18-27 and 5-8 in the WAC.

 

Hawai'i's Stephanie Ricketts (15-8, 8-3 WAC) suffered the loss, giving up five runs on 10 hits with two strike outs and no walks. It was her 19th complete game of the season.

 

The Spartans' starter, Deanna Mauer (6-6), evened her overall record, throwing six-plus innings to earn the win. She gave up four runs on seven hits with three walks and three strike outs. Amanda Pridmore picked up her third save of the season with an inning of work. She gave up two hits and struck out one.

 

In the second inning, UH jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead. Traci Yoshikawa led the inning off with a walk and Audrey Andrade followed with a single to centerfield. Kanani Pu'u-Warren then drew another walk to load the bases. Stacey Yamada then hit a grounder to short and SJSU's shortstop fired home to force out lead runner, Yoshikawa. Pagaduan then hit a single to left that scored both pinch-runner Alex Aguirre and Pu'u-Warren. The next batter, Tanisha Milca hit a fly ball to right. The rightfielder made the catch and threw to the cut-off, the shortstop, who threw to first to double off Pagaduan to end the inning.

 

San Jose State tried to respond in the bottom of the second. Wells started with an infield single and then hustled to third on a single to right by Lopez. Ricketts then got the next batter to pop-up to short and then Otto flied out to left for the second out. But on the play, Wells tagged and ran home, but on the appeal was called out for leaving the bag early.

 

The Spartans posted a run in the fourth to cut UH's lead to 2-1. Mauer singled to right with one out. Wells then hit a grounder to the shortstop who flipped to second to get the force out at two. Lopez then drilled a double to the right-centerfield gap to score Wells all the way from first.

 

In the next half-inning, UH had possible opportunity to pad its lead, but SJSU held the 'Bows off. Pagaduan led off with a single to center and Milca followed with a double to center, putting both runners into scoring position. But Mauer then got a pop-up to short for the first out and then Duhaylonsod-Kaleimamahu hit a fly to right and Milca was doubled off at second for the third out of the inning.

 

 Hawai'i continued to lead the game, 2-1 until the bottom of the sixth, when San Jose State erupted for four runs. With one out, Mauer started things off with a single to centerfield. Next, Wells laced a double down the leftfield line to put runners at second and third. The Spartans then loaded the bases when Lopez was hit by a pitch. Aiello then hit a grounder to short. On the play shortstop, Yoshikawa, fired home to get the lead runner out at the plate. With two outs, pinch-hitter Hawkins drilled a triple to centerfield, driving in Aiello, Lopez, and Wells. Otto, who re-entered the game for Hawkins as the base runner on third, then scored on a wild pitch to extend the Spartans' lead to 5-2.

 

The Rainbow Wahine fought until the end in the seventh. Yamada reached first safely on a fielding error by the Spartans' second baseman. Pagaduan then hit an opposite-field triple to right, scoring pinch-runner Mikalemi Tagab-Cruz from first. Pridmore then entered the game in relief of Mauer for SJSU. She struck out Milca for the inning's first out, but then gave up an RBI single down the leftfield line by Clare Warwick that scored Pagaduan. Duhaylonsod-Kaleimamahu followed with another single to short. The 'Bows had the tying and potential winning run on base, but San Jose State then got Amanda Tauali'i to fly out to right and ended the game on a pop-up to short.

The two teams square off tomorrow for a doubleheader to end the series. The first game starts at 12:00 pm.


                                                                                                                                                      -UH-