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HONOLULU—The University of Hawaii softball team (2-2) used four home runs by four different players to power past McNeese State, 5-2. Freshman pitcher
Kaia Parnaby earned the complete game win for the 'Bows today at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
Parnaby (2-0) gave up two unearned runs while striking out eight batters against just one walk.
The 'Bows got on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the second inning when senior first baseman Amanda Taualii launched her first home run of the season over the right-centerfield fence. It was her 18th career home run.
McNeese State knotted the game at 1-1 in the top of the fifth. With two outs, pinch hitter Liz Morvant started thing with a single to left. On the throw in to the pitcher though, the throw was wild and Morvant scooted to second on the error. The next batter, Dani Price, then hit a ground ball to second, but a fielding error on the second baseman allowed Morvant to score.
Hawaii then erupted for four runs in the bottom of the sixth. The inning started with back-to-back home runs by
Melissa Gonzalez and
Makani Duhaylonsod-Kaleimamahu—both to leftfield. After a flyout,
Traci Yoshikawa kept things going with a single up the middle. Kanani Pu'u-Warren then hit into a fielder's choice that forced Yoshikawa out at second. Senior catcher
Katie Grimes followed by launching a home run over the leftfield fence. It was her second home run of the tournament. The 'Bows took a 5-1 lead into the seventh.
The Cowgirls did not go down without a fight though. Pinch hitter Katie Shoemaker drew a walk to start the inning. After a pop-up to Parnaby, Morvant put down a bunt, but the throw pulled off the covering second baseman, which left runners at first and second. Price then got a base hit to right. On the play however, the ball ricocheted off of the rightfielder. That allowed Corbello, who had stopped at third, to sprint home to score McNeese State's second run. With runners at second and third, Claire Terracina hit a line drive to left-centerfield. But UH leftfielder, Alex Aguirre, made a diving catch and a quick throw in to thwart the scoring opportunity. Parnaby then got the final out on a strike out swinging.
With the win, Hawaii advances to today's championship game at 4:00 pm to face the winner of the following game between the No. 1 seed Stanford and the No. 4 seed Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
