Box Score

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif.—The No. 10/11 University of Hawai`i softball team (12-1) defeated No. 6/6 Oklahoma, 4-1 on Thursday night at the Cathedral City Classic held at the Field of Dreams Sports Complex. Stephanie Ricketts (7-1) earned the complete game win while Alexandra Aguirre went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI.

 

The 'Bows got on the scoreboard first on a Sharla Kliebenstein solo home run launched over the leftfield fence in the top of the second inning. It was Kliebenstein's sixth home run of the season.

 

The Sooners (11-3) then tried to answer back by mounting a rally of their own in the bottom of the second. The lead-off batter of the inning, Jessica Shults started things by drawing a walk. Haley Nix then got a single through the leftside of the infield leaving runners at first and second. Ricketts then struck out her sister, Keilani Ricketts who started the game as the designated player, for the first out of the inning. Chana`e Jones then hit a come-backer to Stephanie Ricketts on the mound who gunned out the lead runner at third for the second out, but a walk to Javen Henson loaded the bases. The inning ended on a line-out to short by Dani Dobbs.

 

Hawai`i then added two more runs in the top of the third inning. Jessica Iwata started the rally with a hard-hit double to the left-centerfield gap. Aguirre followed by drilling a single to centerfield to drive in Iwata from second. Aguirre advanced to second on the throw home and then scored on an RBI single by the next batter, Melissa Gonzalez which chase Oklahoma starter Michelle Gascoigne from the game. The Sooners brought in Ailee Allen who was able to end the inning on an infield pop up and a ground out to second with UH still leading 3-0.

 

In the top of the fourth, Sarah Robinson and Dara Pagaduan both hit singles to put runners at first and second for the 'Bows. Oklahoma then brought in their ace, Keilani Ricketts to face the top of the Hawai`i line up and snuffed out the rally with a pair of strike outs.

 

Oklahoma posted one unearned run in the fifth on a two-out rally. Brianna Turang scored on an RBI single through the hole by Brittany Williams.

 

UH added one more insurance run in the top of the seventh inning. Kelly Majam started things with a one-out single through the middle of the infield. Iwata moved Majam into scoring position on a ground-out to first and then Aguirre drove in her second run with a solid single to leftfield, giving Hawai`i a 4-1 lead with half an inning to play.

 

Stephanie Ricketts gave up the one unearned run on six hits with three walks and nine strike outs. It marked her seventh complete game win of the year for the elder Ricketts.

 

Oklahoma's Gascoigne suffered the loss, dropping her record to 2-1. She gave up three runs on six hits with no walks and two strike outs. Allen gave up two hits in one inning pitched, while Keilani Ricketts closed the game, throwing the final 3.2 innings. She gave up one run on two hits with five strike outs and no walks.

 

Hawai`i continues its play in the tournament tomorrow against No. 18/22 Nebraska at 5:30 and Syracuse at 8:00 pm.

 

 

                                                                              -UH-