Box Score |
Box Score
HONOLULU—The No. 14/19 University of Hawai`i softball team (33-4, 7-2 WAC) launched four home runs en route to a 9-1 win in six innings over Louisiana Tech (18-21, 5-4 WAC).
Kelly Majam hit a pair of homers while
Makani Duhaylonsod-Kaleimamahu and Leisha Li`ili`i both had one apiece.
Stephanie Ricketts earned her 21st win with her 23rd complete game this season.
It was the third time that UH has hit four home runs in a game and the 11th time that the Rainbow Wahine have won by the mercy rule this season. It also marked the first time since last season's series-finale against New Mexico State (April 30, 2011) that no Hawai`i player was struck out in the game.
Ricketts (21-2, 6-0 WAC) threw six innings, scattering four hits and allowing one run. She issued six walks while striking out 10. It was the fifth time this year that Ricketts had at least 10 K's in a game.
The 'Bows jumped out to a quick lead in the first inning on a lead-off home run by Majam that exited the stadium over the right field fence. It was Majam's team-leading ninth homer of the season. It marked the third time this season that she led UH's offense off with a four-bagger. Later in the inning, with runners at first and second, Li`ili`i drove in
Sarah Robinson with an RBI-single up the middle to give UH a 2-0 lead. The 'Bows proceeded to load the bases on a walk to
Dara Pagaduan but La Tech starter Janna Frandrup got the last out on an infield pop-up to thwart the rally.
Majam struck again in the second inning with an opposite-field bomb that sailed over the left-centerfield fence. It marked the third time in her career that she hit two home runs in a game and raised her home run season total to 10 and her career total to 49. It also was Majams 159th career run scored, which is one short of tying Clare Warwick's 160 career runs which is second all-time in UH history.
In the third, Li`ili`i led the inning off with a walk. Pinch runner
Jordan Burton then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt executed by Pagaduan.
Makani Duhaylonsod-Kaleimamahu then drilled a two-run shot to left-center for her fourth homer of the season and 15th of her career to give UH a 5-0 lead after three innings.
Hawai`i tacked on one more run in the fourth.
Kayla Wartner led the inning off by drawing a walk and moved to second on a Robinson single to left.
Jessica Iwata then drove in Wartner from second with a sharp single to left. But on the play, Robinson was gunned down at third by the pitcher who was the made the cut and threw her out.
UH extended its lead to 6-0 in the fifth. Duhaylonsod-Kaleimamahu led off with a single up the middle. After a soft line out to short, Majam hit into a fielder's choice that erased pinch runner
Rachel Paragas at second. Wartner followed with a long single to the right-centerfield gap that allowed Majam to hustle to third. Pinch runner
Lauren Parnaby entered for Majam at third and later scored on a wild pitch.
Louisiana Tech got one run back in the top of the sixth on a solo shot to left-center by Megan Knowles, to cut their deficit to 6-1. Ricketts then closed out the inning with three straight strike outs.
But the 'Bows put the game away in the sixth. Iwata led off with a single up the middle and she advanced to second on an illegal pitch. She then scooted to third on a fly to rightfield by
Alexandra Aguirre. Li`ili`i then hit a two-run, opposite field blast to end the game by the eight run rule. The homer was Li`ili`i's eighth of her rookie season.
Five Rainbow Wahine had two hits apiece. Majam went 2-for-4 with two home runs; Robinson was 2-for-3 with a run scored; Iwata was 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI; Li`ili`i went 2-for-3 with a home run, a walk, and three RBI; and Duhaylonsod-Kaleimamahu was 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI.
Frandrup took the loss dropping her record to 2-4 overall and 1-1 in conference action. She gave up five runs on six hits with four walks. Savannah Dollar closed the game, throwing the last 2.1 innings. She gave up four runs on six hits with two walks.
The two teams conclude their three-game series with Louisiana Tech on Saturday with a doubleheader starting at 2:00 p.m. It's “Power in Pink” day at the park—the Rainbow Wahine will be wearing special pink jerseys in honor of breast cancer awareness. Fans should be aware that parking may be an issue with the Dalai Lama's Pillars of Peace program at the Stan Sheriff Center starting at 1:30 p.m.
-UH-