HONOLULU – The University of Hawai`i softball team split today's doubleheader against New Mexico State, but captured the pivotal series. NMSU won the first game, 3-1, but the 'Bows bounced back to mercy-rule the Aggies in the series finale, 11-3 in five innings.

 

Stephanie Ricketts started both games and took the loss and earned the win to raise her record to 19-9 overall and 11-4 in conference. She threw 4.0 innings in the first game of the day, giving up three runs on seven hits with a walk and two strike outs. It snapped her string of complete games at 16. In the final game, Ricketts was helped by the Rainbow Wahine offense as they racked up 11 runs—six off of home runs—en route to the mercy-rule, five inning game. She gave up three runs on five hits with a walk and a strike out.

 

 

New Mexico State's ace, Kim Watson handcuffed the 'Bows for most of the game. She took a no-hitter into the bottom of the sixth, before Tanisha Milca led the inning off with a solo home run over the left-centerfield fence. That broke up Watson's bid for the no-no and the shut-out. It was the only hit Watson yielded. She did however have four walks with five strike outs in the game.

 

The Aggies posted a single run in the second inning to go up, 1-0. Hoku Nohara led the inning off with a double to the right-centerfield gap. Ricketts then got the next two outs on a fly to left and a ground out to second, but Tiffany Autry came through with a clutch single to left that drove in pinch runner, Shaleese Javillo from third.

 

In the third, the 'Bows got the first two outs, but the Aggies then rallied to load the bases with an infield single, a walk, and a beaned batter. Hawai`i then got the final out of the inning on a fly to left.

 

New Mexico State extended their lead to 3-0 in the top of the fourth. Angie Ortega and Autry started the inning with carbon-copy singles through the leftside of the UH infield. Stacey Lien ground out to third for the first out of the inning, but moved both runners into scoring position for Kylie Randall, who laid down a bunt single that scored Ortega from third. Ricketts then got Kristi Randall to strike out swinging for the second out, but Kandis Jones got another single through the leftside of the infield to score Autry.

 

The only run for UH came in the sixth on Milca's 12th home run of the season and second of the series. It moved her into seventh place alone in UH single-season home run history. It also moved her into a tie for career home runs. Milca now has 33 home runs as a Rainbow Wahine, which ties her with All-American Tyleen Tausaga. She is now one-shy of her career high set in 2007 of 13, which is fifth all-time.

 

NMSU's Watson then came out of the game briefly as Vanessa Fitzgerald came in to relieve Watson. But Fitzgerald gave up a single to Clare Warwick and walked Makani Duahaylonsod-Kaleimamahu. She then fell behind against Amanda Tauali`i, two balls and no strikes, and Aggies' head coach, Kathy Rodolph re-entered Watson into the circle. Watson came back to get Tauali`i to strike out swinging and then snared a little pop-up behind the mound for the second out. She walked #Kanani Pu`u-Warren# to load the bases, but then caught pinch-hitter, Julie Franklin, looking at a third strike to end the rally and the inning.

 

Watson ended up throwing seven innings, giving up the one home run with four walks and five strike outs. Fitzgerald made an appearance, but was unable to get an out after facing two batters. She allowed just one single.

For Hawai`i, Ricketts threw 4.0 innings, giving up three runs on seven hits with a walk and two strike outs. Melissa Gonzalez fired the final three innings in a strong relief appearance. She did not allow any runs and gave up just one hit with no walks and two strike outs.

 

 

The 'Bows rebounded in the second game of the doubleheader to capture the series with an 11-3 win in five innings. Hawai`i brought all nine batters to the plate in both the second and third inning and launched three home runs, one each by Pu`u-Warren, Duhaylonsod-Kaleimamahu, and Audrey Andrade. It was the second homer of the series for both Pu`u-Warren and Duhaylonsod-Kaleimamahu. On defense, UH made some stellar plays as well to help keep the powerful Aggie offense at bay.

 

Hawai`i's starting pitcher, Ricketts threw all five innings, giving up three runs on five hits with a walk and a strike out.

 

The Aggies got on the scoreboard first with a run in the top of the second. Ortega led the inning off with a walk. A sacrifice bunt executed by Autry moved her into scoring position for Tiare Jennings who then hit an opposite-field RBI single to score Ortega from second. Lien then hit a deep fly to center, but Pu`u-Warren got under the ball, but it popped out of her glove. On the play, Jennings had to tag, so she only got to third. A sacrifice bunt by Vanessa Valles then moved Lien to second, but Jennings stayed at third. Freshman second baseman Dara Pagaduan then made a highlight-reel worthy, back-handed stop up the middle, pivoted and threw leadoff hitter, Kristi Randall out at first to end the rally and the inning.

 

Hawai`i answered right back in the bottom of the inning, bringing all nine batters to the plate. NMSU's Russell issued a leadoff walk to Andrade to start the inning, and was promptly relieved by the first game starter, Kim Watson. Watson however proceeded to walk the next three batters in a row, to score UH's first run of the game. Pagaduan followed with a solid single to the left-centerfield gap to drive in both Pu`u-Warren and Traci Yoshikawa. On the play, Katie Grimes was gunned out at third on a nice 8-to-6-to-5 relay, but Pagaduan hustled to second. After a fly out to right, Warwick laced a single up the middle to drive in Pagaduan from second. Duhaylonsod-Kaleimamahu followed with another single, but Watson got the final out of the inning on a pop-up to short.

 

In the third, the 'Bows again had a big inning, scoring six runs and bringing all nine batters to the plate. The Aggies' third pitcher of the game, Vanessa Fitzgerald, then entered and got a ground out to second to start the frame. But she then gave up a solo home run by Pu`u-Warren that sailed high above the centerfield fence. Yoshikawa then walked for the second time of the game. After a swinging strike out, Pagaduan drew a walk to put runners at first and second for the 'Bows. Milca then hit an opposite field single to drive in Yoshikawa from second. The Aggies' Fitzgerald was then replaced by Sydney Willard who started off by walking Warwick to load the bases. Duhaylonsod-Kaleimamahu then cranked her first career grand slam into the wind in left-centerfield. It was her seventh home run of the season and second of the series. Williard closed the inning with a ground out to second, but the damage had been done and UH held an 10-1 lead after four complete innings.

 

New Mexico State responded immediately by getting two runs back in the top of the fourth. Ortega drove a triple down the rightfield line to start the inning. Autry then hit a little chopper to short, but the only play was to first, allowing Ortega to score easily. Jennings then hit a solo home run to centerfield. But Ricketts remained composed and came back stronger, getting a pair of ground outs to short to end the inning.

 

With the lead cut to seven in the bottom of the fourth, UH went back up by eight on Andrade's solo home run to centerfield. It was Andrade's fifth of the season and her eighth of her career. Her home run pushed UH's lead to 11-3.

 

The Aggies didn't go down without a fight though. The 'Bows got the first out on a line out to short, but Jones followed with an infield single to second. Nohara then hit a squibber to second, Pagaduan fielded it and flipped to Yoshikawa at short for the second out. Pinch runner, Javillo then stole second, but Ricketts got Ashley Maroda to hit a come-backer and threw to first for the final out of the game.

 

Hawai`i now finishes its regular season next week with a three-game conference series against WAC newcomer, Boise State on May 1-2. The 'Bows will honor their seven seniors, Audrey Andrade, Courtney Baughman, Julie Franklin, Tanisha Milca, Richie-Anne Titcomb, Clare Warwick, and Stacey Yamada—all of whom are four year players for Hawai`i.

 

By winning two-of-three games against NMSU, the 'Bows are now by themselves in third place in the WAC standings. League leader, Nevada, swept Utah State, while Fresno State swept Boise State to go one game ahead of Hawai`i with one week left to play.

 
                                                                                                                             -UH-