Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

LAS VEGAS, Nev.—The University of Hawai`i softball team (9-0) swept Friday's doubleheader at the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic. The 'Bows first powered past Portland State, 11-3 then pulled away from UC Riverside in five innings, 8-0. In both games, UH bolted out to a 6-0 lead after the first inning giving all the offensive support for Kaia Parnaby and Stephanie Ricketts to earn complete game wins.
 
 
Hawai`i 11, Portland State 3
Box Score

The 'Bows jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Kelly Majam led the game off with a walk and Kayla Wartner followed with a ground ball to second. But on the play, the second baseman's throw to second was errant allowing both runners to be safe. Sarah Robinson then drew another walk and Jessica Iwata ripped an opposite-field double to the right-centerfield gap to drive in both Majam and Wartner. Alex Aguirre was then hit by a pitch to load the bases again for Sharla Kliebenstein who launched a grand slam over the leftfield fence. It was the sophomore's second career grand slam and first of her season.
 
Kliebenstein's home run chased the Vikings' starter Raya Johnson and reliever Anna Bertrand then entered the game and squelched the UH rally. Upon entering, Bertrand retired 10 of 12 batters before Majam drilled a solo home run to centerfield to give UH a 7-0 lead.
 
But the Rainbow Wahine would put the game out of reach in the seventh, tacking on four more runs to increase their lead to 11-0. Wartner drew a one out walk and moved to second on a single by Robinson. Iwata then hit into a fielder's choice that erased Wartner at third, but Aguirre then came through with an RBI single up the middle to score Robinson from second. Kliebensten then drove in her fifth run of the day with a double to centerfield. Hawai`i capped their scoring with a pair of RBI singles from Leisha Li`ili`i and pinch hitter Shannon Lum.
 
The Vikings would go down swinging though. Karmen Holladay hit a first pitch home run over the leftfield fence to start the bottom of the seventh inning that snapped Parnaby's string of 18 innings without giving up an earned run. A muffed throw at first allowed Hendrickson to reach safely. Later after a fly out to center and a popup to first, Alicia Fine laced a triple to right to drive in pinch runner Alexa Morales. Sadie Lopez then hit an RBI double off the fence in center to drive in Fine to cut their deficit to 11-3 after seven complete innings. Hawai`i closed the game fielding a line drive to third.
 
Parnaby (3-0) scattered 10 hits and gave up three runs (one earned) with two walks and six strike outs.
 
For Portland State, Johnson suffered the loss. She did not last an out, but gave up six runs on two big hits with two walks. Bertrand threw 7.0 innings, yielding five runs on eight hits with two walks and seven strike outs.
 
Hawai`i's offense was led by Kliebenstein who was 2-for-4 with a double, a grand slam; two runs scored and five RBI. Iwata went 2-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and two RBI; and Li`ili`i was also 2-for-4 with an RBI.
 
Hawai`i 8, UC Riverside 0 (5)
Box Score
 
The Rainbow Wahine opened the game with its second six-run first inning in a row. Majam led off the bottom of the first frame with a walk and hustled to third on a double by Wartner to deep centerfield. A sacrifice fly hit to center by Robinson drove in Majam for UH's first run. Iwata followed with a single to leftfield to push Wartner across the plate. Aguirre and Kliebenstein followed with singles to load the bases. Iwata scored and the other two runners moved up a base on an illegal pitch. Li`ili`i then crushed a double to centerfield to score both Aguirre and Kliebenstein. Li`ili`i moved to third on a wild pitch and later scored on a single to left by Dara Pagaduan to go up, 6-0 after one inning of play.
 
In the third, UH rallied again to go up 8-0 on the Highlanders. Makani Duhaylonsod-Kaleimamahu led off the inning with a single to center and Majam later drew a one-out walk to put runners on first and second. Wartner was then beaned to load the bases for Robinson who got her second sacrifice fly of the game to score pinch runner Rachel Paragas. On the play, Majam advanced to third but Wartner stayed put, leaving runners at the corners. Wartner then stole second and Majam scored on an error to lift UH to their 8-0 lead.
 
Ricketts and the defense blanked UC Riverside for the win. Ricketts tossed 5.0 innings and spaced four hits. It was Ricketts sixth complete game win and third shut out of the season. She walked three and struck out seven while facing 21 batters.
 
For UC Riverside, Taylor Alvarez (0-2) took the loss, throwing 3.0 innings. She gave up eight runs on nine hits with two walks and two strike outs. Amy Lwin closed the game retiring the 'Bows in order in the bottom of the fourth.
 
Wartner and Iwata both had two hits apiece for the 'Bows. Wartner went 2-for-2 with a run scored and Iwata was 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI and a run.
 
Hawai`i is off to its best start at 9-0 in program history. Last season, UH set the mark winning their first seven games. In 1998, the 'Bows won their first eight games, but the first four were against the DII teams in Hawai`i.
 
On Saturday, the Rainbow Wahine will again play a doubleheader. UH will battle CSU Northridge at 3:45 p.m. and Idaho State at 6:00 p.m. both at the Stephanie Lynn Craig Softball Complex.