Box Score

HONOLULU—The 25th-ranked University of Hawai`i softball team (34-11, 12-0 WAC) defeated Louisiana Tech, 3-1 in the series opener tonight at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. Jenna Rodriguez hit a two-run homer in the first inning and UH pitcher Stephanie Ricketts earned the complete game win, tying her career high with 11 strike outs.

Ricketts did not walk a batter and faced just 27 batters in her 20th complete game of the season. She scattered six hits and took a shut out into the seventh inning, before giving up a solo home run to Molly Goza.

The 'Bows jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning with a two run home run by Rodriguez over the left-centerfield fence. The blast brought home Kelly Majam who was walked on four straight pitches to start the game. It was Rodriguez's 11th home run and the team's 107th of the season.

The Rainbow Wahine added another run in the third to increase their lead to 3-0. Melissa Gonzalez and Rodriguez started the inning with back-to-back singles then Traci Yoshikawa hit a grounder to short, but an error on the play allowed all runners to be safe. Alex Aguirre was then hit by a pitch to drive in pinch-runner Brynne Buchanan.

The Lady Techsters' Meghan Kreig (16-10, 6-2 WAC) took the loss, throwing a complete game. She gave up three runs on six hits with four walks and eight strike outs.

The two teams finish their three game series tomorrow with a doubleheader starting at 4:00 p.m.