Box Score

LOS ANGELES—The University of Hawai'i softball team (8-3) defeated Loyola Marymount, 8-0 in a mercy-rule, six inning game at Smith Field in Los Angeles, Calif. Hawai'i pitcher Stephanie Ricketts picked up the win with a complete game shut-out, while the 'Bows offense was highlighted by Amanda Tauali'i and Kelly Majam home runs.

 

Ricketts evened her record to 3-3 on the season with a six-hitter. She fired six complete innings, with a walk and four strike outs in her first shut out of the season.

 

The 'Bows started the game with a bang, with Tauali'i drilling her fifth home run of the season over the right-centerfield fence. The homer brought in Melissa Gonzalez who had singled earlier in the inning.

 

The Lions were able to get runners on in five of the six innings today, but their greatest scoring threat came in the bottom of the fourth. LMU had  runners at second and third and one out, but Ricketts thwarted the rally with a pair of strike outs to end the inning.

 

The score remained 2-0 until UH erupted for five runs in the top of the fifth. Katie Grimes and Majam started the rally with back-to-back singles and Jenna Rodriguez drew a walk to load the bases. After a fielder's choice to third that erased pinch-runner, Brynne Buchanan, at the plate, Tauali'i came through with an RBI single to right that brought Majam home. Jessica Iwata followed with a double to left that scored both Gonzalez and Rodriguez home. Then, Traci Yoshikawa cleared the bases with a two-run single to center to end the scoring barrage.

 

Majam then capped off the game with a solo home run to centerfield to push UH's lead to 8-0 in the top of the sixth. It was the fourth homer of the season for the freshman centerfielder who is the reigning WAC Hitter of the Week.

 

Loyola Marymount's Molly Medeiros took the loss, giving up eight runs on 11 hits with one walk and two strike outs in five-plus innings pitched. Erica Grady finished the game in relief, getting the final three outs.

 

Hawai'i now travels to Palm Springs, Calif. to finish their first roadtrip of the year at the Cathedral City Classic hosted by Oregon State (Feb. 25-27). The 'Bows will battle tough competition with the likes of Oklahoma State, UC Davis, Oregon, No. 9 Oklahoma and No. 2Arizona.