BOISE, Idaho—The 25th-ranked University of Hawai`i softball team (33-11, 11-0 WAC) hit 12 home runs in today's doubleheader sweep at Boise State, 9-5 and 12-1 at Mountain Cove Softball Field in Boise, Idaho. Head Coach Bob Coolen earned his 700th win at UH in today's second game; Kelly Majam tied the Western Athletic Conference home run record with her 23rd; and Jessica Iwata drove in a UH-record eight RBI in the series finale.

Coolen, who is in his 19th season as the head coach of the Rainbow Wahine, now has a record of 700-423-1. Overall in 24 seasons as a head coach, he has amassed a 772-516-1 record. At the beginning of the season, Coolen was ranked 30th all time the NCAA DI in wins. He continues to be the all-time winningest coach in UH softball history. The program's first head coach, Alika Thompson, is a distant second with a five year record of 94 wins and 130 losses. Coolen is the third longest tenured coach at the University of Hawai'i, with only women's volleyball head coach Dave Shoji (30 seasons) and sailing's skipper Andy Johnson (20 seasons) having logged more years at UH.

Majam continues to impress in her rookie season. Her 23rd home run ties her with Fresno State All-American Christina Clark for the single season WAC home run record set in 2004. On the day, Majam was walked three times and scored four runs, but her 18 game hit streak was snapped in the final game of the series. She may have not gotten a hit in the game, but she still got on base three-of-four times and scored three runs to end her monumental roadtrip.

Fellow freshman, Iwata broke the school's single game record with eight RBI in the second game. She belted out three home runs in the game, including her second career grand slam. The previous record was held by Dana Degen (at Oregon on April 19, 2000) and Cheyenne Thompson (vs. Sacramento State on March 25, 1994). Iwata's three home runs ties her for UH's and the WAC's single game record with Amanda Tauali`i and Fresno State's Christina Clark. Iwata's eight RBI also tied the WAC single game record, with San Jose State's Brittany McConnell.
 

In what was one of its most difficult roadtrips in school history, the Hawai'i fared well in their eight games in eight days in three different states (their series opener at Utah State was snowed out). But the 'Bows enjoyed the benefits of playing in altitude as they launched 39 home runs in eight games. UH hit 17 home runs in 17 innings at Boise State; 9 in two games at Utah State; and 13 at New Mexico State. UH's six home runs in both games was a school at conference single-game record. Freshman Jessica Iwata led the team with eight homers and five doubles with 20 RBI on her second career roadtrip.

The Rainbow Wahine is of to its best ever start in conference with a WAC-best 11-0 record, and remain the only undefeated team in the WAC, with Fresno State in second with a 7-2 conference mark and UH's next opponent, Louisiana Tech at 6-3.

The Rainbow Wahine racked up six home runs en route to a 9-5 win to start the doubleheader. All nine runs came off home runs. Amanda Tauali'i and Melissa Gonzalez both launched a pair of round-trippers to lead the 'Bows at the plate. Tauali'i went 2-for-3 with two home runs and five RBI, while Gonzalez was 2-for-4.

UH starter, Kaia Parnaby (15-5, 2-0 WAC) earned her second conference victory with a complete game effort. She gave up five runs on 10 hits with a walk and four strike outs. Parnaby now has 15 complete games in 20 starts this year.

The 'Bows jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the top of the first. Majam led the game off with a solo home run and later in the inning, Gonzalez roped a solid line drive that sailed over the leftfield fence. It was her 13th round-tripper of the year.

The 'Bows posted three more runs in the top of the second. Alex Aguirre and Kanani Pu'u-Warren started the inning with consecutive singles. Tauali`i then hit her ninth home run of the season with an opposite-field shot that left the park over the left-centerfield fence to give UH a 5-0 lead.

In the bottom of the third, the Broncos threatened to score on a two-out rally. The 'Bows got two quick outs on a pop-up to short and a grounder to first. But then Kellie Caplan, Jessi Hanna and Kathy Cox had three consecutive hits up the middle, bringing up clean-up hitter Vanessa Alvarez who hit a pop-up to shallow right that twarted the rally.

The 'Bows tacked on three more runs in the fourth to increase their lead to 8-0. Two came on Tauali'i's second home run of the game which sailed over both fences and into the trees. It was a two run blast that drove in pinch runner Tara Anguiano. Later with two outs, Iwata hit a solo shot to give UH it's eighth run of the game.

Boise State then started to connect offensively. Kelly Sweeney hit a solo home run in the fourth, and in the fifth, the Broncos got three consecutive hits to start the inning. Alvarez then came through with a clutch RBI single and Christina Capobianco to hit a grounder to the rightside of the inning for an out allowing Caplan to score from third. UH's lead was 8-3 at the end of five innings.

Hawai'i got one run back in the seventh, on Gonzalez's second home run of the game. It was unofficially the farthest home run ever hit at a Boise State game in their two-year history. The ball was driven over the two outfield fences, over the trees beyond leftfield and into the street. It marked UH's 100th home run of the season.

But the Broncos kept battling back. Cox hit a two- run, home run in the top of the seventh close their deficit to 9-5, but that was as close as they got as UH got two ground outs to end the game.

Boise State starter Aubray Zell (5-7) took the loss, throwing two complete innings, giving up five runs on six hits with a walk and two strike outs. Ashley Collier then came in relief and held the 'Bows to four runs on four hits with two strike outs in five innings of work.

The nine runs scored by UH snapped their streak of five games hitting the double digit mark in runs.

Box Score

The series finale was highlighted by six more home runs—three off the bat of freshman shortstop, Iwata, including her second career grand slam on the road. Iwata drove in a jaw-dropping, record eight runs in the game. 

Also having a stellar day at the plate was junior third baseman, Gonzalez, who was 4-for-4 with a double and a home run.

Sophomore pitcher Stephanie Ricketts (17-6, 8-0 WAC) tossed a three-hitter and picked up her sixth win of the roadtrip. She gave up one run and retired the last seven batters in a row.

Game three's scoring got off to a blazing start with second inning solo home runs from Alex Aguirre and Tauali'i that gave the 'Bows an early 2-0 lead.

Boise State cut the lead in half on a solo homer by Capobianco in the bottom of the frame.

But UH then started to pull away. Iwata's first home run of the day was a two-run bomb that drove in Majam, who had walked in the inning.

It was déjà vu in the fourth inning, as Majam again got on base, this time via a fielding error, but she was driven home on Iwata's second home run of the game.

Hawai'i loaded the bases in the top of the fifth on an error, a walk, and a beaned batter which brought up Majam to the plate. The Broncos walked the NCAA home run leader, only to face Iwata, who promptly rocketed her second grand slam of her career. Not to be outdone, Gonzalez followed with a solo home run to increase UH's lead to 12-1.