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HONOLULU—The No. 14 University of Hawai`i softball team (38-5, 11-3 WAC) scored nine runs on seven hits in the fifth inning en route to stunning come-from-behind 11-3 mercy rule win over Fresno State on Friday night. The win gives UH a half-game lead over the Bulldogs who are now 31-18 overall and 11-3 in conference. Stephanie Ricketts earned the complete game win and Makani Duhaylonsod-Kaleimamahu led UH at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a home run at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium in front of a full house of 1,200.
 
Ricketts raised her record to 24-3 overall and 9-1 in WAC action. She threw 5.0 innings allowing three runs on five hits with four walks and six strike outs.
 
Fresno State threatened to score in the second inning putting runners at the corners with two outs, but Ricketts got a swinging strike out to thwart the rallies.
 
But in the third, the Bulldogs jumped out to a 3-0 lead. Maria Sio started the inning with a hard hit single to third and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Brenna Moss. Then, after a strike out, Michelle Moses drew a four-ball walk and Courtney Moore followed with a three-run home run to left.
 
The Rainbow Wahine got two runs back in the bottom of the fourth to cut their deficit to 3-2. Dara Pagaduan started things with a two-out single up the middle and Makani Duhaylonsod-Kaleimamahu followed with a towering home run that sailed out high over the leftfield fence. It marked her seventh home run of the season and 17th of her career.
 
Then the 'Bows batted around the order to post nine runs in the fifth to end the game. Kelly Majam led off with a walk and after a strike out, Sarah Robinson got a single to left-centerfield to put runners at the corners. Jessica Iwata then walked to load the bases for Alexandra Aguirre who hit a sharp single that ricocheted off a diving shortstop to drive in the tying and go-ahead runs. Leisha Li`ili`i followed with a bases clearing double that drove in both Iwata and Aguirre. Fresno State then got the second out on a strike out but Duhaylonsod-Kaleimamahu laced a single to centerfield to score pinch runner Jazmine Zamora from second. It was Duhaylonsod-Kaleimamahu's third hit and third RBI of the game. Fresno State then lifted starting pitcher Michelle Moses for Mackenzie Oakes. Pinch hitter Jocelyn Enrique then came through with a chopper over the pitcher that went to centerfield to score pinch runner Tara Anguiano from second. On the play the throw from center bounced into the third base dugout allowing Enrique, who had advanced to second on the throw home, to go to third on the dead ball. Majam was then walked for the third time in the game and Kayla Wartner got a single to center to score Brynne Buchanan—who re-entered the game at third base. Robinson then ended the epic rally with a single to center that drove in both Majam and pinch runner Sharla Kliebensten to give UH the eight-run rule win, 11-3. It was the 14th mercy rule win for Hawai`i this season.
 
The Rainbow Wahine had at least one runner on base in every inning, but didn't break onto the scoreboard until the fourth inning. It was a complete team effort as one through nine along in the order contributed in the win. Duhaylonsod-Kaleimamahu led UH at the plate, going 3-for-3 with three RBI and a home run. Robinson was 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored.
 
Fresno State's Moses threw 4.2 innings giving up eight runs on eight hits with nine strike outs and four walks. Oakes came in but was unable to get an out, giving up three runs on three hits with a walk.
 
The two teams square off tomorrow in the series finale doubleheader starting at 2:00 p.m. It will be the final home games for Jocelyn Enrique (who is a four-year junior who will be transferring next season) and seven seniors: Alexandra Aguirre, Makani Duhaylonsod-Kaleimamahu, Shannon Lum, Dara Pagaduan, Rachel Paragas, Stephanie Ricketts and Sarah Robinson.