Box Score

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif.—The University of Hawai'i softball team (9-4) held off UC Davis for an 8-5 win at the Cathedral City Classic today. Jenna Rodriguez picked up her first win as a Rainbow Wahine in relief and Kaia Parnaby earned her first collegiate save (5-1-1). Offensively, UH was led by Jessica Iwata, who went 3-for-4 at the plate with one of three Hawai'i home runs in the game.

 

Sophomore pitcher Stephanie Ricketts (3-3) got the start, giving up three runs on four hits with four walks and two strike outs in the first 2.2 innings. Rodriguez came in to throw the next two-plus innings, allowing two runs on six hits to earn the victory. But, it was Parnaby who saved the day by thwarting the Aggies' comeback bid. Parnaby came in with the bases loaded, two outs, and a one run lead and got a strike out to end the fifth. She proceeded to face just seven batters in 2.1 innings pitched with four strike outs.

 

In the bottom of the first the Aggies loaded the bases, with one out, after a single, a walk, and a beaned batter. But Ricketts settled down and induced a ground ball to the shortstop who fired home to cut down the lead runner at the plate and then thwarted the rally with a grounder to second who tossed to short for the third out.

 

UH freshman shortstop, Iwata, then put UH ahead 1-0 on an opposite-field home run over the right-centerfield fence. It was her third homer of the season.

 

The 'Bows got out of another jam in the bottom of the second. Ricketts started with a swinging strike out, but then hit Jessica Gonzalez and then gave up a single to put runners at first and second. Alex Holmes then hit a single up the middle and the runner on second raced around third trying to score. But she was gunned down at the plate on a good center-to-first-to-catcher relay. UCD still had runners at first and second, but an unassisted grounder to Amanda Tauali'i at first ended the inning.

 

Hawai'i batting around the line-up and posted five runs in the top of the third to go ahead, 6-0. Makani Duhaylonsod-Kaleimamahu reached on a fielding error on the second baseman to start the rally. Pinch-runner, Rachel Paragas then hustled to second on a wild pitch and soon after scored on a Katie Grimes single up the middle. Kelly Majam continued things with a single right back to the pitcher, leaving runners at first and second. After a strike out, Melissa Gonzalez whacked another single up the middle to score pinch-runner Tasha Anguiano from second. After another strike out, Iwata picked up another RBI with a single down the leftfield line that scored Majam. Traci Yoshikawa then drove in Gonzalez with a single down the third base line. Alex Aguirre# walked to load the bases for Duhaylonsod-Kaleimamahu who drew a walk to score Iwata for UH's sixth run of the game.

 

The Aggies answered right back in the bottom of the frame with a solo home run by Elizabeth Santana to leftfield. Ricketts got the next two outs on a ground out to third and fly to center, but then proceeded to give up three consecutive walks to load the bases for pinch-hitter Bianca Castillo. Jenna Rodriguez then re-entered the game, after starting in leftfield, to relieve Ricketts on the mound. Castillo, though, came through with a two-run single through the left side to score Marissa Araujo and Kelly Harman. But on the play, UH got the third out on a leftfield-to-short-to-third base relay, leaving Hawai'i with a 6-3 lead going into the fourth inning.

 

UC Davis carried their momentum into the fourth to score two more runs. Holmes got things started by reaching on a fielding error on the shortstop. A Michelle Espiritu single put runners at first and second for Santana, who came through with a single to right to score Holmes from second, leaving runners at the corners. UH then turned a 3-6-4 ground out double play to get two outs, but allowing Espiritu to score from third. Rodriguez then got the last out on a ground out to short, clinging to a 6-5 lead.

 

The Aggies loaded the bases again in the fifth on three singles. UH pitcher, Parnaby then entered the game in relief and promptly struck out pinch-hitter Schulze to end the inning.

 

Majam gave the 'Bows some breathing room with an opposite-field, solo home run in the sixth, and Yoshikawa added to the lead with a solo home run of her own in the top of the seventh.

 

UC Davis' Dana Waldusky took the loss, giving up two runs on three hits with three walks and three strike outs in 4.1 innings pitched. Holmes threw the final 2.2 innings, giving up six runs on six hits with four strike outs and no walks.

Iwata finished the game 3-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored, and two RBI, Yoshikawa was 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBI, and a sacrific ebunt, and Majam was 2-for-4 with two runs and a home run.

The 'Bows now battle Oregon (10-4) in their second game of the day at the Cathedral City Classic.