Box Score

FRESNO, Calif. – The University of Hawai`i softball team (30-23, 15-6 WAC) bounced back to stave off elimination with a 10-2 win over Boise State in a five inning, mercy-rule game. Pitcher Stephanie Ricketts earned the win while Tanisha Milca went 3-for-4 with a home run to lead the 'Bows on the second day of the WAC Tournament at Bulldog Diamond this afternoon.

 

Ricketts (22-10) threw all five innings giving up two runs on four hits with two walks and no strike outs. Her 22 wins ties her for fifth all-time in UH single-season history with Kelly Gentle (1998) and Felicity Witt (2001). Ricketts almost picked up her 10th shut-out of the season, but faltered slightly in the last inning, allowing the Broncos to post two runs on the scoreboard.

 

The Rainbow Wahine's bats, which were silenced last night by Louisiana Tech, woke up by tallying 10 runs on 17 hits—including a home run, a triple, and four doubles.

 

Boise State (22-30) used three of its pitchers in the game. Aubray Zell started and threw three innings. She gave up six runs on seven hits with three strike outs. Allie Crump then replaced Zell on the mound in the fourth inning and gave up two runs on three hits with one strike out. Mandy Klein threw the final frame, yielding two runs on two hits and a strike out. The 'Bows were also aided by three Boise State errors.

 

The 'Bows offense was on the attack from the first batter forward. Milca launched the third pitch of the game high over the left field fence to start the game. It marked the sixth time in her career and second time this season that she led a game off with a home run. After a pop-up out, Makani Duhaylonsod-Kaleimamahu drove a shot to the right-centerfield gap for a double. Amanda Tauali'i then hit a shot through the rightside of the infield to score Duhaylonsod-Kaleimamahu from second.

 

In the third inning, Hawai`i posted four more runs to extend their lead to 6-0. Milca started the rally by reaching safely on a fielding error on the shortstop. Clare Warwick then followed by laying down a bunt down towards third base. But combine Warwick's wheels and a slow-rolling bunt, the third baseman made a good effort, but her only option was to bare-hand it, which was unsuccessful. That proved costly, as the 'Bows then got three consecutive hits--all with no outs. First, Duhaylonsod-Kaleimamahu hit her second double of the game over the rightfielder to drive in Milca. Then, Tauali`i hit a deep fly to right-centerfield that bounced off the top of the fence and back into the field of play for a triple. On the play both Warwick and pinch-runner, Mikalemi Tagab-Cruz came home from third and second respectively. For Tauali`i, it was her fourth triple of the year, which ties her for second with 13 other players for UH's single-season high. Audrey Andrade then came up with a single past a diving shortstop to score Tauali`i easily from third. The Broncos' Bell then settled down to retire next three batters in a row on a swinging strike out, a ground out to third, and a fly to centerfield.

 

Crump then entered the game in relief for Boise State. Katie Grimes greeted her with a lead-off double to right-centerfield. Milca then hit a bloop-single over the shortstop. On the play, the shortstop kicked the ball into leftfield allowing Grimes to come around third and score. Milca then scored on Warwick's double to right-center, increasing UH's lead to 8-0.

 

In the top of the fifth, the 'Bows tacked on two more insurance runs, that proved to be very important. After a leadoff strike out, Richie-Anne Titcomb reached on a fielding error on the Broncos' shortstop. Titcomb moved to second on a single through the right-side of the infield to put runners at first and second. A ground out to short moved both runners into scoring position for Milca, who came through with a two-run single through the leftside of the infield. Those two runs pushed Hawai`i's lead to 10-0.

 

Ricketts had only given up one single through the first four innings. But in the fifth, Boise State kept fighting and tallied two runs. Kelly Caplan, who was given extra life after the catcher couldn't hang on to a pop-fly, made good with a single to leftfield. A ground out to second pushed Caplan to second, and a wild pitch allowed her to scoot to third. Lexi Straton then drilled a double to right-centerfield to score Caplan from third. Tazz Weatherly then got a hit to rightfield to put runners at the corners. A fielding error on the shortstop allowed  Straton to score the Broncos' second run. But the game then ended when Warwick fielded a grounder to third, stepped on the bag to get the lead runner and fired across the infield for the game ending double play.

 

Milca led UH going 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBI and three runs scored. Tauali`i was 2-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored, while Warwick was 2-for 4 with a double, RBI and run scored.

 

The loss eliminated Boise State from their first-ever WAC Tourney, and Hawai`i advances to play Nevada tomorrow at 4:30 pm on the third day of the tournament.

 

 

                                                                                                                                   -UH-