Box Score

LAS VEGAS, Nev.—The University of Hawai`i softball team (9-1) launched five home runs en route to a 12-3 win over CSU Northridge on the final day of the Louisville-Slugger Desert Classic in Las Vegas, Nev. Sharla Kliebenstein led UH at the plate going 3-for-4 with a double and two home runs while Stephanie Ricketts earned the complete game victory.

 

The Matadors struck first, posting a pair of runs in the top of the first inning on a Tracy Allen two-run home run to straight-away centerfield.

 

Hawai`i then batted around the order to score eight runs in the bottom of the second. Kliebenstein and Jenna Rodriguez started the inning with back-to-back solo home runs. The 'Bows kept the rally going with a walk to Sarah Robinson followed by a Ricketts single through the right-side of the infield. Dara Pagaduan then drew another walk to load the bases for Kelly Majam who launched a towering grand slam over the rightfield fence to clear the bases. It was Majam's second career grand slam after hitting one against Fresno State in last season's WAC tournament on May 14. Jessica Iwata then walked and CSUN changed their pitcher from Carly Wade to Hannah Fraijo. Alex Aguirre then had a single to left to move Iwata to second. Melissa Gonzalez followed with a fielder's choice that erased Aguirre at second but moved Iwata to third. Kliebenstein then got her second hit of the inning, a double to leftfield that drove in Iwata from third. Later, with two outs, Sarah Robinson hit an RBI single to center to score Gonzalez from third to give UH an 8-2 lead after two innings.

 

Northridge got one run back in the top of the third on a fielder's choice to second by Mikayla Thiegles to score Samantha Sloniker, cutting UH's lead to 8-3.

 

CSUN's pitcher Fraijo then held the UH bats at bay for the next three innings, retiring 10 straight batters. But in the sixth, Aguirre ripped a one-out double to leftfield. After a pop-up to second, Kliebenstein came through with her second homer of the game to leftfield. Rodriguez kept things going with a line-shot double to the right-centerfield gap and Robinson ended the game on a two-run, walk-off home run to centerfield that drove in pinch runner Tara Anguiano.

 

It was the first time this season that UH has drilled five home runs in a game. Hawai`i hit four home runs against Utah (Feb. 12) and No. 19/18 Stanford. Last season, as a team, UH hit five homers in seven games and six home runs in two games.

Ricketts (5-1) earned the complete game win, throwing 6.0 innings. She gave up three runs on four hits with three walks and six strike outs.

 

The Rainbow Wahine end the tournament with a 4-1 record and now head to UC Riverside to play a doubleheader there on Tuesday, Feb. 22 starting at 12:00 pm. 


                                                                                                   -UH-