HONOLULU—The University of Hawai'i softball starter
Addison Kostrencich fired a four-hit shutout and
Milan Ah Yat hit a two-run home run to help defeat Howard 3-0 to open the OUTRIGGER Invitational at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium on Wednesday night. Hawai'i improved to 11-6 overall with the victory while Howard fell to 4-9 overall.
Kostrencich spaced four hits with no walks and five strikeouts to improve to 6-3. It marked her second complete game shutout in as many weeks after she shutout Nevada 4-0 last week at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic.
Hawai'i struck first, posting one run in the bottom of the first.
Maycen Gibbs looped a single to left. Gibbs then stole second and came home on an RBI-single by
Liliana Thomas for the early 1-0 lead.
Hawai'i loaded the bases in the third on two outs.
Izabella Martinez hit a leadoff double to start the frame. Walks to Gibbs and Ah Yat loaded bases with two outs, but the Bison got a flyout to thwart the UH rally.
Gibbs led off the fifth with a walk. Later with two outs, Ah Yat blasted a two-run bomb over the centerfield fence to extend UH's lead to 3-0. It marked Ah Yat's second home run as a Rainbow Wahine.
Howard's starter Ameenah Ballenger took the loss dropping her record to 3-3. She threw the first five innings allowing three runs on six hits with four walks and a strikeout. Reliever Julia Holt had two strikeouts in the final frame.
The Rainbow Wahine continue the OUTRIGGER Invitational with Jackson State on Thursday, Feb. 27 at 6:00 p.m. HT.
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