Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

LAS VEGAS, Nev.—The University of Hawai'i softball team (5-3, 0-0 Big West) split its games on the second day of the Easton Desert Classic hosted by UNLV. Hawai'i fell to No. 2/1 Florida, 11-1 but bounced back to out-slug Seattle, 9-8 in their second game of the day at Eller Media Stadium.

No. 2/1 Florida 11, Hawai`i 1 (5)
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The Gators (8-0, 0-0 SEC) took the early lead, posting three runs in the top of the second. The frame started well with UH getting groundouts to second and third for the first two outs. But, two consecutive walks put runners at first and second. A fielding error on the second baseman loaded the bases for Kirsti Merritt who singled up the middle to score Taylore Fuller and Katie Medina. Then with runners at the corners, Florida executed a double steal to go up 3-0 all on unearned runs.
 
After blanking the Gators in the third inning, Florida added three runs in the fourth. Kelsey Stewart hit a triple to left to drive in Fuller who had walked to start the frame. Merritt then lifted a sacrifice fly to right to score Stewart from third. Then Lauren Haeger hit a home run to left-centerfield to give the Gators a 6-0 lead.
 
Hawai'i broke up Florida's no-hit bid in the bottom of the fourth when Leisha Li`ili`i launched her fourth home run of the season and second in as many games. She drove the 1-0 pitch opposite field over the left field fence to give UH its first run of the day.
 
The Gators, however, erupted for five runs in the top of the fifth to put the game away. Florida got three more home runs in the inning by Fuller, Aubree Munro, and Stewart.
 
UH's Loie Kesterson (0-2) suffered the loss slowing 11 runs on 10 hits with five walks and two strike outs.
 
Florida's Hannah Rogers earned the win (3-0) firing four innings allowing just one run on one hit. Delanie Gourley closed the game tossing the final frame with two strike outs.
 

Hawai'i 9, Seattle 8
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The Rainbow Wahine edged out Seattle, 9-8 in UH's second game of the day. Hawai'i's leftfielder, Lindsey Willmon led the game off with a solo home run to centerfield to give the 'Bows an early 1-0 lead. It was Willmon's second homer of the season.
 
But in the bottom of the first, the Redhawks (1-8, 0-0 WAC) responded with four runs of their own. Bubba Morrow came through with two RBI on a single to the left-centerfield gap. Lisa Maulden then followed with a double to left to score Morrow. Later, Paige Bouska hit an RBI groundout back to the pitcher to score Maulden for the 4-1 lead after one complete inning.
 
UH would knot the game at 4-4 in the top of the second. After a pop-out to third started the inning, Kristina Akiona started the rally with an opposite-field triple driven down the rightfield line. Sharla Kliebenstein followed with a single up the middle to score Akiona from third. Alyssa Villalpando then laced an opposite-field single through the right-side of the infield to move Kliebenstein to third. Sarina Jaramillo then drove in Kliebenstein with a single to right and Willmon followed with a double to left to score Villalpando easily from third.
 
Seattle would jump out ahead in the bottom of the second on a two-run home run by Maulden to lead UH, 6-4.
 
But Hawai'i would answer right back to tie the game again at 6-6 in the top of the third. Heather Morales drew a walk to start the rally. Then after a pop-up to second, Kliebenstein drew the second walk of the inning to move runner Kiani Wong into second. Villalpando then hit a single through the left-side of the infield pushing Kliebenstein to second and then to third on a throwing error on the left fielder which allowed Wong to score. Jaramillo followed with her second RBI of the game on a groundout that ricocheted off the pitcher to second to first for the second out. But on the play Kliebenstein scored the tying run.
 
After holding Seattle off the scoreboard in the bottom of the third, UH retook the lead, 9-6 in the top of the fourth. Keiki Carlos led things off with a double to left and Li`ili`i was walked while Carlos advanced to third base on a passed ball. Morales and Akiona followed with back-to-back RBI singles to score Carlos and Li`ili`i respectively. Jaramillo drove in the third run of the inning with a single to right that allowed Akiona to cross the plate from third for what proved to be the winning run.
 
The Redhawks responded, chasing Morales from the game after loading the bases with one out in the bottom of the fourth. Kesterson came in relief for her second appearance of the day. She got the first out on a line-out to first, but allowed two runs on an RBI single by Bouska and a walk to Hayley Beckstrom. The 'Bows got the final out on a ground out to second to end the rally with UH leading 9-8 after four complete innings.
 
That would be how the game would end with the score, 9-8 in favor of UH. Kesterson earned her first win of the season, throwing the final 3.2 innings. She gave up five hits with two walks and three strike outs allowing two runs which were credited to Morales. Morales threw 3.1 innings, allowing eight runs on eight hits with four walks and two strike outs.
 
Seattle threw three pitchers against Hawai'i. Lindsay Davis got the start and threw the first 1.1 innings, allowing four runs on six hits with a strike out. Alyssa Reuble suffered the loss (0-3) throwing the next 1.2 innings. She gave up five runs on four hits with three walks and two strike outs. Mandie Sugita threw the final four innings, shutting down UH allowing five runs with a walk and four strike outs.
 
Villalpando led UH at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Willmon was 2-for-4 with a double and a home run with two RBI; Carlos was also 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored; Akiona went 2-for-4 with a triple, two runs scored and an RBI and Jaramillo was 2-for-3 with three RBI.
 
Hawai`i continues action in the Easton Desert Classic on Saturday, Feb. 15 with Portland State at 3:45 (PT). UH will play a pair of games on Sunday, Feb. 16 against Nevada at 11:15 am and Utah at 1:30 pm. Hawai'i's final three games will be played at the Stephanie Lynn Craig Softball Complex.