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HONOLULU—The University of Hawai`i softball team (1-0) opened the 2011 season with a bang, blasting three home runs en route to a 9-1 win in five innings over Southern Utah (0-1). Junior pitcher Stephanie Ricketts (1-0) earned the complete game win, while Jessica Iwata, Melissa Gonzalez, and Kelly Majam all launched their first homers of the season on Thursday night at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

 

The Thunderbirds though struck first, jumping out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Stephanie DeJesus started things with a single to left and was driven home on a triple to the rightfield fence by Aly Daniels.

 

Hawai`i was held hitless the first time through the line-up. But, the second time around, the Rainbow Wahine came through with several solid hits. Majam started a two-out rally in the bottom of the third inning. She laced an opposite-field double down the leftfield line. Iwata then came up and slammed a line-shot home run that sailed over the leftfield fence. Gonzalez then followed with a high shot over the centerfield fence for the first back-to-back home runs of the season, giving Hawai`i a 3-1 lead.

 

The 'Bows kept things going in the bottom of the fourth with Alex Aguirre leading the inning by sprinting out an infield single to short. Sharla Kliebenstein followed with a single to center and UH loaded the bases when Sarah Robinson drew a walk. Pinch-hitter Jocelyn Enrique then hit a grounder to short to score the speedy Aguirre from third. Later, with two outs, Majam hit a drilled a pitch high over the centerfield fence for a three-run home run to give UH a 7-1 lead after four innings.

 

Gonzalez led the fifth inning off with a walk and later in the inning, pinch-runner Brynne Buchanan came home on an illegal pitch called on SUU pitcher Kara Bendt. The inning continued with the 'Bows loading the bases on a single and two walks. Jazmine Zamora ended the game when she was hit by the pitch to force Kliebenstein home from third, giving UH the eight-run mercy rule win.

 

Ricketts tossed five innings, giving up a run on five hits with five strike outs and no walks.

 

Southern Utah starter Heather Black threw the first four innings, giving up seven runs on six hits with a walk and five strike outs. Bendt threw the final two-thirds of an inning, giving up a hit with two runs with three walks.

 

The Hawai`i hitters were led by Majam, who went 2-for-2 with a double and a home run (she was beaned in her first at bat of the game), while Aguirre went 2-for-3 at the plate. Iwata and Gonzalez were 1-for-3 and 1-for-2 each with a home run. Four of UH's seven hits were for extra bases.

 

In the first game of the day, Texas State shut out UC Davis, 4-0.

 

The Oceanic Time Warner Cable Paradise Classic continues tomorrow with four games.

1:00 pm – UC Davis vs. Southern Utah

3:00 pm – Texas State vs. Southern Utah

5:00 pm – Hawai`i vs. UC Davis

7:00 pm – Hawai`i vs. Texas State


                                                                                                                          -UH-