HONOLULU—The No. 16/20 University of Hawai`i softball team (22-9) couldn't hold off Brigham Young, who scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth to defeat UH, 2-1. BYU advances to the Chevron Spring Fling Tournament championship game with the win at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium on Saturday.

 

Hawai`i threatened to score in the top of the second inning. Sharla Kliebenstein ripped a double to the left-centerfield gap. Melissa Gonzalez then drew a walk to put two runners on board with no outs. But BYU starter Paige Affleck settled down, getting two infield ground outs and a strike out to stymie UH.

But the 'Bows got out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning on Sharla Kliebenstein's solo home that sailed over the left-centerfield fence. For Kliebenstein, it was her ninth home run of the season.

 

Hawai`i starter Stephanie Ricketts held the Cougars at by for the first five innings, but in the bottom of the sixth, BYU (14-14) leapfrogged the 'Bows, tallying two runs. Jessica Fitu hit an RBI single that drove in Jessica Dugan from second. Fitu moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Cashjen Atagi. Fitu then scored what proved to be the winning run on a double to left field by Carly Duckworth.

 

BYU's Affleck (8-9) threw a complete game in the win, allowing just one run on four hits with three walks and six strike outs.

 

Ricketts (13-7) fired six innings, yielding two runs on five hits with a walk and 10 strike outs.

Kliebenstein led UH at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double and a home run. Jazmine Zamora and Gonzalez were the only other Rainbow Wahine to garner a hit in the game. Hawai`i had at least one runner on base in every inning.

 

The Rainbow Wahine now start conference play against Utah State on Friday at 6:00 pm with a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 4:00 pm.

 

 
                                                                                               -UH-