FRESNO, Calif. — The No. 20/25 University of Hawai‘i softball team (25-10, 3-1 WAC) fell to Fresno State, 5-0 in the Western Athletic Conference series opener at Bulldog Diamond, Friday night, states a release from the UH athletic department. Starting
FRESNO, Calif. — The No. 20/25 University of Hawai‘i softball team (25-10, 3-1 WAC) fell to Fresno State, 5-0 in the Western Athletic Conference series opener at Bulldog Diamond, Friday night, states a release from the UH athletic department.
Starting pitcher Stephanie Ricketts suffered the loss and Jenna Rodriguez closed the game in relief.
Ricketts gave up five runs on nine hits in 4.1 innings pitched with a walk and five strikeouts. Rodriguez closed the game, throwing the final 1.2 innings with a walk and a strikeout.
Fresno State’s starting pitcher Michelle Moses blanked the ‘Bows, tossing her first career no-hitter. She threw 7.0 innings with two walks and 11 strike outs.
The Bulldogs jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Ricketts struck out the leadoff hitter, but Fresno State then reeled off four straight hits to plate three runs.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Bulldogs tacked on another run on a pair of hits to go up 4-0. Fresno State then added another run in the bottom of the fifth, when Moses reached on a single and eventually scored on an illegal pitch on Rodriguez to increase its lead to 5-0.
It was the first time UH has been no-hit since May 25, 2007 when No. 1 Tennessee shut out the ‘Bows, 9-0 in the Super Regionals opening game.
It marked Hawai‘i’s first regular season game to be televised on ESPNU. The Rainbow Wahine are now 7-6 in nationally televised games.
The ‘Bows and Bulldogs square off in a doubleheader today with the first pitch slated for 1 p.m. local time (10 a.m. HT).
Baseball beats up Wichita State
HONOLULU — The University of Hawai‘i baseball team defeated Wichita State Friday, 12-4. The run total was a season-high for the Rainbows, who improve to 13-14.
The Shockers fall to 18-10.
Hawai‘i trailed 3-0 before posting a season-high seven runs in the fourth inning.
The ‘Bows batted around the order, with Michael Blake (2-5, 1 R, 1 RBI) collecting a single and a double in the inning.
Breland Almadova (3-5, 2 R, 2 RBIs) also doubled with Kolten Wong (3-4, 2 R, 5 RBIs) capping the scoring with a two-RBI base hit. Wong’s five RBIs equaled a single-game career high.
Randy Yard (1-0) earned the win in relief of Connor Little. He tossed five innings allowing no earned runs with seven strikeouts. Brian Flynn (2-1) was tagged with the loss for WSU in just three innings of work.
Ryan Hege batted 2-3 with two runs to lead Wichita State.
The onslaught continued in the fifth inning. Wong hit his team-leading fourth home run, a two-run shot over the right field wall, highlighting a four-run inning and giving the ‘Bows an 11-3 lead.
There were 3,151 tickets sold for the contest, and a turnstile count of 2,369.
UH and Wichita State play their series finale today. First pitch is set for 12:05 p.m.
Game stories provided by the UH athletic department.
