LIHU‘E — The University of Hawai‘i softball team (1-0) opened the 2011 season with a bang, blasting three home runs en route to a 9-1 win in five innings over Southern Utah (0-1). Junior pitcher Stephanie Ricketts (1-0) earned the
LIHU‘E — The University of Hawai‘i softball team (1-0) opened the 2011 season with a bang, blasting three home runs en route to a 9-1 win in five innings over Southern Utah (0-1).
Junior pitcher Stephanie Ricketts (1-0) earned the complete game win, while Jessica Iwata, Melissa Gonzalez, and Kelly Majam all launched their first homers of the season on Thursday night at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium, states a UH athletic department press release.
The Thunderbirds struck first, jumping out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Stephanie DeJesus started things with a single to left and was driven home on a triple by Aly Daniels.
Hawai‘i was held hitless the first time through the order. The second time through was a different story, as Majam started a two-out rally in the bottom of the third inning. She laced an opposite-field double down the left field line. Iwata then slammed a line-drive home run that sailed over the left field fence. Gonzalez followed with a high shot over the center field fence for the first back-to-back home runs of the season, giving the Wahine a 3-0 lead.
The ‘Bows kept things going in the bottom of the fourth with Alex Aguirre leading the inning by sprinting out an infield single to short. Sharla Kliebenstein followed with a single to center and UH loaded the bases when Sarah Robinson drew a walk. Pinch-hitter Jocelyn Enrique hit a grounder to short to score the speedy Aguirre from third. Later, with two outs, Majam drilled a pitch high over the center field fence for a three-run homer to give UH a 7-1 lead after four.
Gonzalez led the fifth inning off with a walk and later in the inning, pinch-runner Brynne Buchanan came home on an illegal pitch called on SUU pitcher Kara Bendt. The inning continued with the ‘Bows loading the bases on a single and two walks. Jazmine Zamora ended the game when she was hit by the pitch to force Kliebenstein home from third, giving UH the eight-run mercy rule win.
Ricketts tossed five innings, giving up a run on five hits with five strikeouts and no walks.
Southern Utah starter Heather Black threw the first four innings, giving up seven runs on six hits with a walk and five strikeouts. Bendt threw the final 2/3 innings, giving up a hit with two runs with three walks.
The UH hitters were led by Majam, who went 2 for 2 with a double and a home run (she was beaned in her first at bat of the game), while Aguirre went 2 for 3 at the plate. Iwata’s and Gonzalez’s homers were the only hit in the game for each. Four of UH’s seven hits were for extra bases.
In the first game of the day, Texas State shut out UC Davis, 4-0.
The Oceanic Time Warner Cable Paradise Classic continues today with four games:
1 p.m. — UC Davis vs. Southern Utah
3 p.m. — Texas State vs. Southern Utah
5 p.m. — Hawai‘i vs. UC Davis
7 p.m. — Hawai‘i vs. Texas State
