Box Score

HONOLULU—The No. 14/17 University of Hawai`i softball team (19-5) advanced to the Pepsi Malihini Kipa Aloha Tournament championship game with a 3-1 win over South Dakota State (2-15). Stephanie Ricketts tossed a one-hitter and earned the complete-game win while Sharla Kliebenstein and Kelly Majam both hit home runs at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

 

The 'Bows got an early 2-0 lead in the first inning. Jessica Iwata reached on a fielding error on the second baseman. Two batters later, Kliebenstein launched her eighth home run of the season over the leftfield fence.

 

In the bottom of the fourth, UH added another run on a solo home run by Kelly Majam. Majam's fourth homer of the season gave UH a 3-0 lead.

 

The Jackrabbits posted a run in the top of the fifth. SDSU's Tina Winter led the inning off with a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Greta Stroh. Kelly Kleppin followed with another sacrifice bunt, but the throw to first was wild and allowed Winter to scoot home.

 

Ricketts gave up one run on one hit with five walks and three strike outs in 7.0 innings. The win raised her record to 12-4 on the year.

 

Kori Seidlitz also threw a complete game for the Jackrabbits. She gave up three runs on six hits with no walks and five strike outs in six innings of work.

 

The Rainbow Wahine now advance to play Miami (Ohio) (who defeated Longwood 1-0 in the first game) at 4:00 pm.

 

                                                                                                             -UH