LIHU‘E — The University of Hawai‘i softball team split a pair of games at the Cathedral City Classic in Cathedral City, Calif. on Friday to move to 9-5 on the season. The opening game of the day was an 8-5
LIHU‘E — The University of Hawai‘i softball team split a pair of games at the Cathedral City Classic in Cathedral City, Calif. on Friday to move to 9-5 on the season.
The opening game of the day was an 8-5 victory over UC Davis, with freshman shortstop Jessica Iwata leading the Wahine attack by going 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored. Iwata, a 2009 Kaua‘i High School graduate, now has three homers on the season.
Her blast Friday got the scoring started and gave UH a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning. She then had and RBI single and scored a run in a five-run third inning that opened the game up for the ‘Bows.
Stephanie Ricketts got the start for UH, but came out after 2.2 innings, having given up three earned runs on four hits and four walks, while striking out two.
Jenna Rodriguez came on in relief and picked up the win, working out of trouble in two innings, giving up six hits.
Kaia Parnaby was dominant in the closer’s role, picking up the save by entering with a narrow 6-5 lead in the fifth and setting down all seven batters she faced, including four by strikeout.
Second baseman Traci Yoshikawa was 2-for-3 with a homer and two RBIs.
The second game of the day ended with the ‘Bows on the wrong side of a 4-3 final score at the hands of the Oregon Ducks.
Parnaby got the start in this one, but did not have the same ease she did in the opening contest. She went the full six innings, giving up four runs on 11 hits with three strikeouts.
Iwata went 1-for-3 with one of the UH runs scored.
Amanda Tauali‘i went 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Oregon’s Kelsey Chambers, playing shortstop, went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored.
Jessica Moore got the win for the Ducks, going seven innings and giving up one earned run on eight hits.
Hawai‘i will complete its first road trip of the year today with two games against perennial powers — No. 9 Oklahoma and No. 2 Arizona at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. respectively.
