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HONOLULU—The University of Hawai`i softball team (6-0) held off the Missouri-Kansas City Kangaroos, 1-0 on Monday night at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. Freshman Kayla Wartner hit a clutch solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning that proved to be the difference. Stephanie Ricketts fired a three-hit shut-out to earn her fourth win of the season.
 
The game was another pitcher's duo between UMKC's Deanna Friese, but this time it was Ricketts in the circle for the 'Bows instead of Kaia Parnaby, who earned the win in the first meeting, 5-1 this past Friday. The game was scoreless through the first five innings. But in the bottom of the sixth inning, Wartner came through with a home run to straight-away centerfield high over the fence for the game's only run of the night. It was UH's first hit of the game. The 'Bows' only other hit was a double that came off the bat of Sarah Robinson immediately following Wartner's homer.
 
In the top of the seventh the Kanagaroos rallied. Their first batter up, Megan Ussary led the inning off with a sharp single up the middle. Then after Alex Aguirre chased down a fly ball in left field, Emily Ott got another single just over a leaping Jessica Iwata at shortstop. Ricketts then bore down and got Caitlin Christopher to strike out swinging and then the game ended on a 1-6-3 groundout to first base.
 
Ricketts (4-0), the reigning Verizon WAC Pitcher of the Week, threw 7.0 innings and spaced three hits with two walks and seven strike outs. She faced just 26 batters in the game.
 
The 'Roos' Friese (0-3), who is the defending Summit League Pitcher of the Year, stymied UH at the plate through the first five innings. She threw 6.0 innings, giving up the one run on two hits with three walks and nine strike outs. It was the third time this week that Friese gave up runs late in the game to come up short in the win column.
 
The Rainbow Wahine now head to Las Vegas, Nev. to play in UNLV's Louisville Slugger Desert Classic, Feb. 16-19. The 'Bows will face Memphis, Portland State, UC Riverside, CSU Northridge, Idaho State, and host UNLV.