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Box Score 2 HONOLULU-- The University of Hawai'i softball team (4-1, 0-0 Big West) opened the final day of the Oceanic Time Warner Cable Paradise Classic with its fourth-straight shutout of the year against UMKC, 5-0. But, in the tourney's championship game, Ole Miss (4-1, 0-0 SEC) came back to defeat UH 6-5 in eight innings on Saturday afternoon at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
Hawai'i 5, UMKC 0Box Score (html) Kanani Aina Cabrales fired a two-hit shutout over UMKC to notch her second-straight shutout of the season. She walked just one with three strike outs while facing just 25 batters in the game. It marks Aina Cabrales' sixth career shut out at Hawai'i.
The Rainbow Wahine jumped out to an early lead, posting two runs in the second.
Heather Morales led the frame off with a solo home run to centerfield. It was her second home run of the year and the eighth homer of her career. Later in the inning, Aina Cabrales reached on an error on the shortstop.
Courtney Hiruko came in to run for Aina Cabrales and moved to second when
Jennifer Iseri was plunked. UH's baserunners then executed a double steal to move both runners into scoring position.
Breanna Ojala hit a little foul-pop up which the second baseman caught, but on the play her feet got tangled up after making the catch and she fell to the ground which allowed Hiruko to score UH's second run.
Hawai'i capitalized again on a Kangaroo error in the third inning as
Sarah Muzik started the inning by lacing a single to right. She advanced to second on a groundout to the pitcher and then she stole third and scored on an errant throw by the catcher.
The Rainbow Wahine got two insurance runs in the sixth when
Ulu Matagiese battled at the plate and came through with a two-RBI single to drive in
Jennifer Iseri and Ojala to extend UH's lead to 5-0.
The Roos tried to fight back in the top of the seventh, getting two runners aboard on a walk and a single with two outs. But Aina Cabrales got the final out on a ground out stymie the Kangaroo rally.
It marked UH's fourth-straight shutout to start the year. It is the longest shutout streak for the 'Bows since 2006 when Hawai'i shut out Grambling State on the road 25-0 and 14-0 then blanking San Jose State at home, 2-0 and 3-0.
Katie Kelley suffered the loss for UMKC. She threw 5.0 innings, allowing three runs on four hits with five strike outs and a walk. Lacie Bullard tossed the final inning, giving up two runs on one with one hit and a walk.
Ole Miss 6, Hawai'i 5 (8)Box Score (html) UH's
Brittany Hitchcock fired a complete game in the loss to the Rebels. Hitchcock gave up six runs on 12 hits with no walks and four strike outs to drop her record to 2-1 overall.
Ole Miss got on the scoreboard first, posting two runs in the top of the third. It marked the first runs that UH gave up any runs in the first 30-1/3 of the year. The Rebels started the inning with back-to-back singles. Natalie Martinez then laid down a sacrifice bunt. Both runners advanced, but on the play the runner at third was caught in a run down between first and second but UH was called for obstruction at third and the lead runner, Hailey Lunderman scored. The next batter, Alex Schneider then put down a suicide squeeze to score Miranda Strother for their second run.
Hawai'i answered right back by scoring four runs in the bottom of the third to take the lead. With a runner on third,
Ulu Matagiese came through with an RBI-single up the middle to score Ojala. Later with the bases loaded,
Keiki Carlos hit a squibber to first to allow Matagiese to score and Morales followed with a clutch single ripped to left to drive in both
Nicole Lopez and Muzik to give the 'Bows a 4-0 lead.
In the top of the sixth, Ole Miss loaded the bases with just one out, but Hitchcock settled down and struck out the next two batters to retire the side and thwart the Rebel rally.
The Rainbow Wahine added one run in the sixth to extend their lead to 5-2.
Keiki Carlos led off with a double hit into the leftfield corner. Morales was then intentionally walked. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch and then
Rachel Lack tested the limits of the ballpark with a deep fly to center which resulted in a sacrifice fly allowing Carlos to cross the plate.
Ole Miss however, kept fighting in the seventh inning. The Rebels tied the game with one swing of the bat. Schneider came through in the clutch with a hit a three-run home run just inside the leftfield foul pole to knot the score at 5-5. The Rainbow Wahine were unable to score in the seventh, so the game went into "extra innings." With the International Tie-Breaker in place, the Rebels started the eighth inning with Haley Culley starting the inning at second base. Culley moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and soon scored off pinch hitter Ashton Lampton's single to centerfield to go up on the 'Bows, 6-5.
Hawai'i started the bottom of the eighth with Lopez at second base. Carlos dropped a beautiful bunt which pushed Lopez to third. But that is where Lopez would be stranded as the next two batters grounded out to short and
Rachel Lack flied out to centefield to end the game.
Hawai'i has one more game against UMKC on Monday night, Feb. 15 at 5:00 pm at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium before the team leaves for the annual Las Vegas tournament hosted by UNLV.
2016 Oceanic Time Warner Cable Paradise Classic All-Tournament TeamKatie Moss, St. Mary's
Katie Kelley, UMKC
Alyssa Clayton, Ole Miss
Nicole Lopez,Hawai'i
Heather Morales, Hawai'iHailey Lunderman, Ole Miss
Sarah Muzik, Hawai'iMonika Reichardt, St. Mary's
Alex Schneider, Ole Miss
Bailey Lotz, St. Mary's
Most Valuable Player: Natalie Martinez, Ole Miss
Most Outstanding Pitcher: Kanani Aina Cabrales, Hawai'i
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