Box Score

HONOLULU—The No. 16/20 University of Hawai`i softball team (22-7) lost to Iona, 1-0 in nine innings with the international tie-breaker in effect. Rainbow Wahine starter Stephanie Ricketts fired a one-hitter with a career high 13 strike outs, but still suffered the loss dropping her record to 13-5.

 

It was a pitcher's duel between Ricketts and Iona's Sarah Jackson who also threw a complete game, scattering four hits with three walks and 13 strike outs in the win. The game was scoreless through the first eight innings. But in the ninth, the runner, Erin Kyle, started at second base and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Eileen McCann. Kyle then scored on a passed ball that ticked off the catcher's glove and rolled to the backstop.

 

Hawai`i, though, had a couple of scoring opportunities that did not materialize. In the fourth inning, Jenna Rodriguez drilled a double to centerfield with one out. Sharla Kliebenstein then hit a single to move Rodriguez to third. Kliebenstein then stole second to put both runners into scoring position, but Jackson was able to settle down and struck out the next two batters to end the inning.

 

In the eighth, UH loaded the bases with no outs. Jazmine Zamora pinch ran to start the inning at second. Dara Pagaduan drew a walk to put runners at first and second and Kelly Majam got a single to centerfield to load the bases. But Jessica Iwata then hit into a fielder's choice to the shortstop who fired home to erase Zamora at the plate. Jackson again bore down and struck out the final two batters to thwart the 'Bows' rally.

 

It marked the first time that UH has been shut-out in consecutive games since 2004 when UH what blanked in three consecutive games by Nevada twice on April 24 (0-3 and 0-3) and Louisiana Tech on May 1 (1-0).

 

Hawai`i will now play No. 9/10 California tomorrow at 5:00 pm to conclude the pool-play portion of the tournament.

 

 

                                                                                      -UH-