Box Score

LAS CRUCES, N.M.—The University of Hawai`i softball team (28-11, 6-0 WAC) overpowered New Mexico State (17-16, 0-6 WAC) 13-1 in five innings to complete their second Western Athletic Conference series sweep. Sophomore pitcher Stephanie Ricketts (13-6, 4-0 WAC) fired a two-hitter, while the UH offense launched five more home runs in today's game at the NMSU Softball Complex.

Ricketts faced just 18 batters and had two strike outs with no walks in her 16th complete game of the season..

The 'Bows jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Amanda Tauali'i started things off with a one-out, solo home run over the rightfield fence. Katie Grimes followed with a walk and then Kelly Majam launched her 20th home run of the season to left-centerfield to give UH a three-run lead. Majam is now just one home run shy of tying former UH All-American Kate Robinson's record of 21 set in 2008.

Hawai`i added two more runs in the third. Jenna Rodriguez led the inning off with a solo home run to leftfield. New Mexico State then changed pitchers, relieving Carissa Theis with Alex Newman. Alex Aguirre then kept things rolling for UH, lacing a double to the left-centerfield gap. Aguirre moved to third on a ground out by Traci Yoshikawa, and scored on an error charged to the first baseman.

Jessica Iwata led the fourth off with a solo home run to push UH's lead to 6-0.

New Mexico State rallied and posted one run in the bottom of the fourth. Kandis Jones led off with a single, and a double by Tiare Jennings put both runners into scoring position for the Aggies. Hoku Nohara then hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield that allowed Jones to score from third. Ricketts then settled down to strike out the next batter and then got a comebacker to end the inning.

Hawai`i then exploded for seven runs in the top of the fifth—all scored on two outs. Rodriguez led off with a walk and then NMSU got a pair of strike outs. But that's when the rally started for the 'Bows. Kanani Pu'u-Warren drew the second walk of the inning to put runners at first and second. Tauali`i then came through with an RBI single to drive in Rodriguez from second. Grimes followed with a bases clearing double that scored both pinch runner Brynne Buchanan and Pu`u-Warren. Majam was then hit by a pitch to put two runners on board again. Jessica Iwata then hit an RBI single to score pinch-runner Tara Anguiano. Melissa Gonzalez followed with the coup de grace, a three-run bomb that drove in both Majam and Iwata that gave UH a 13-1 lead going into the home-half of the fifth.

New Mexico State's Theis took the loss, giving up four runs on four hits in two innings of work. Newman threw 1.2 innings, and gave up two runs on two hits, while Sydney Williard tossed the last 1.1 innings, giving up seven runs on four this with two walks and two strike outs.

The 'Bows hit 13 home runs in the three game series, which brings their season total to 80--just four shy of the school's record set in 2007. As a team, Hawai`i hit .389 against the Aggies, with 21 of their 37 hits being of the extra base variety. Three Rainbow Wahine hit over .500 in the three games, with Tauali`i leading the way at the plate. She hit .583 (7-for-12) with two doubles, two home runs and six RBI. Iwata was 8-for-14 for a .571 average with three doubles, two homers, and seven runs scored. Grimes hit .556 (5-for-9) with a double, five runs scored and a team-high three home runs and eight RBI. It was also the 11th time that the 'Bows have "mercy-ruled" their opponent this season.

The Rainbow Wahine continue their roadtrip with a three-game conference series at Utah State, Tues., Apr. 6-Wed., Apr. 7. The Aggies (14-15, 3-2 WAC) are coming of a doubleheader sweep over Nevada in Logan, Utah. Their series finale was postponed due to inclement weather.