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HONOLULU—The No. 18/19 University of Hawai`i softball team (21-1) was shut out by No. 6/6 Texas, 4-0 on the opening night of the Chevron Spring Fling Tournament. The loss snapped UH's school-record 21-game win streak. Pitcher Stephanie Ricketts suffered the loss in her 13th complete game of the season.
 
The game was a pitcher's duel between Ricketts and Texas' Blaire Luna (9-0) through the first four innings. Hawai`i had two runners on with one out in the first and full base with one out in the second, but were unable to capitalize in the run column. In all, UH had at least one runner on base in six of seven innings and left nine runners stranded on base in the game.
 
In the top of the fifth with the score still 0-0, Texas' number nine batter, Karina Scott came through with a two-run home run over the right-centerfield fence that drove in Mandy Ogle who had walked in the previous at-bat. The home run snapped UH's scoreless inning streak by Ricketts and Kaia Parnaby at 27 2/3.
 
The Longhorns added two unearned runs in the seventh inning. Taylor Thom led off with a single to left-centerfield and stole second. Nadia Taylor then walked to put runners at first and second. Torie Schmidt then laid down a sacrifice bunt that the catcher over-threw to first allowing the batter to be safe Smith to hustle to third and Thom to score. After a strike out, Scott struck again, driving in pinch runner Gabby Smith for her third RBI of the game.
 
Ricketts threw 7.0 innings, giving up three runs on three hits with three walks and eight strike outs.
 
Texas' Luna tossed 7.0 shut out innings allowing just two hits with five walks and a season high 16 strike outs.
 
The tournament continues tomorrow with four games, ending with Hawai`i vs. Marist at 6:30 p.m.
 
Wednesday's game schedule
11:00 am – No. 21 Texas A&M vs. No. 1/2 California
1:30 pm – No. 6/6 Texas vs. Winthrop
4:00 pm – Texas A&M vs. Marist
6:30 pm – No. 18/19 Hawai`i vs. Marist