Box Score
LAS VEGAS, Nev.—The No. 9/12 University of Hawai`i softball team (8-1) bounced back to beat No. 18/19 Stanford, 6-1. Sophomore shortstop
Jessica Iwata went 4-for-4 with three solo home runs to lead the UH offense, while junior pitcher
Stephanie Ricketts earned her fourth win of the year with a complete game effort at the Louisville-Slugger Desert Classic in Las Vegas, Nev.
Ricketts gave up one run while scattering four hits with no walks and seven strike outs. After giving up an infield single to Stanford's lead-off batter, Ricketts retired the next 12 batters in a row and held the Cardinal scoreless until the seventh inning. She rebounded after suffering her first loss of the season to Oregon in the morning.
Hawai`i got off to a strong start on Iwata's first home run of the day in the bottom of the first inning, giving UH a 1-0 lead.
In the second inning, the 'Bows rallied with two outs to post another run.
Dara Pagaduan started things by reaching first safely on a fielder's choice by the third baseman of a dropped pop-up on her bunt.
Sarah Robinson then came through with a clutch double to the leftfield corner, scoring Pagaduan all the way from first base.
Iwata struck again with a solo shot to leftfield in the fifth inning. UH added three more runs in the sixth inning. Pinch hitter
Shannon Lum drew a walk to start the two-out rally.
Jasey Jensen then re-entered the game for Lum on first and was driven home on a line-shot home run to centerfield off the bat of
Kelly Majam. Iwata followed with her third homer of the day and sixth of the tournament, after launching two yesterday against Utah and one against Long Beach State.
Stanford's lone run came in the top of the seventh inning when Danielle Miller hit a solo home run to centerfield.
Teagan Gerhart started the game for Stanford and threw the first 2.1 innings. She gave up two runs on four hits with a walk and a strike out. Ashley Chinn came in relief and fired the final 3.2 innings, allowing four runs on five hits with a pair of walks and three strike outs.
Hawai`i completes it's play in the Louisville-Slugger Desert Classic on Sunday at 11:15 against CSU Northridge at the Stephanie Lynn Craig Park-Field 2.
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