FRESNO, Calif.—The No. 20/25 University of Hawai`i softball team (25-12, 3-3 WAC) was swept by Fresno State (22-8, 6-0 WAC) on Saturday, 2-1 and 2-0 at Bulldog Diamond. Sophomore centerfielder
Kelly Majam led the 'Bows at the plate, going 4-for-6 in the doubleheader.
Hawai`i 1, Fresno State 2
Box Score
The 'Bows struck first, posting a run in the top of the third inning. Majam led off by drilling an opposite-field single past the third baseman.
Jasey Jensen then pushed a bunt single past the third baseman to put runners at first and second.
Jessica Iwata followed with a fielder's choice hit to short who flipped to third to get Majam out. Then after a foul pop-out to third,
Jenna Rodriguez laced a single into leftfield to drive in the speedy Jensen from second.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Bulldogs leapfrogged the 'Bows when Andrea Ortega launched a two-run home run over the leftfield fence, giving Fresno State a 2-1 lead.
The 'Bows had two runners on with no outs in the top of the sixth after both
Melissa Gonzalez and Alex Aguirre began the inning with back-to-back singles.
Makani Duhaylonsod-Kaleimamahu then executed a sacrifice bunt to push both runners into scoring position. But relief pitcher Michelle Moses then retired the side on two infield pop-ups to thwart the UH rally.
The Bulldogs then mounted their own rally in the bottom half of the sixth. Fresno State's Courtney Moore led off with a double to the right-centerfield gap. Pinch runner Diane Runge then moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Caitlin Stiglich. The Bulldogs then had runners at the corners after Andrea Ortega drew a walk. But UH starter,
Kaia Parnaby struck out the next batter. Fresno State's Demi Walker then hit a high-fly ball to the left-centerfeld gap, but Aguirre chased it down for the final out of the inning.
Parnaby (9-3, 1-1 WAC) fired a complete game, giving up two runs on five hits with two walks and eight strike outs.
Mackenzie Oakes earned the win for Fresno State, giving up just one run while scattering eight hits in 5.0 innings. Michelle Moses picked up her first save of the season, throwing the final two hitless innings with a strike out.
Hawai`i 0, Fresno State 2
Box Score
The second game was a pitcher's duel of a game. The two teams were locked in a scoreless tie through the first five innings. But Fresno State broke through on the scoreboard with a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth by Nicole Angene.
Stephanie Ricketts (15-9, 2-2 WAC) threw a complete game in the loss, giving up two runs on four hits in six innings of work with five walks and six strike outs.
Michelle Moses (8-6, 3-0 WAC) earned her second win of the series, holding the 'Bows to just two hits with two walks and a strike out as she shut-out the 'Bows for the second time in as many days.
It is the first time that UH has been swept in a conference series since 2008, when the Bulldogs took all three games by one run—with two of the games going into extra innings. The last time the 'Bows lost a WAC series was against Nevada in 2009 when the 'Bows dropped their first two games before taking the series finale.
Hawai`i now returns home to host Nevada in a three-game series starting of Friday, April 8 at 6:00 pm and concluding with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 9 with the first pitch slated for 4:00 pm.
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