TUSCALOOSA, Ala.—The No. 19/23 University of Hawai`i softball team (48-14) hung on to win the second game of today's NCAA Super Regional doubleheader over No. 3/4 Alabama, 8-7. Hawai`i hit three home runs--including a grand slam by Jessica Iwata to defeat the Crimson Tide at the Alabama Softball Complex today. UH fell in the first game, 8-0 in five innings.
Game 2: Hawai`i 8, Alabama 7
Box Score
The Rainbow Wahine softball team (48-14, 19-1 WAC) bounced back after being mercy-ruled in the first game, to defeat No. 3/4 Alabama (48-14), 8-7 and force a deciding Game Three tomorrow in the NCAA Super Regionals in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The Hawai`i win snapped Alabama's program record 28-game win streak. Stephanie Ricketts earned the win in relief while Alabama's Kelsi Dunne suffered the loss in relief. It was the highest ranked team that Hawai`i has defeated this season.
The Crimson Tide posted a single run in the top of the first. Kayla Braud led the game off with a bunt single and moved to second on a stolen base. Braud moved to third on a ground out to first and scored on a sacrifice fly by Charlotte Morgan.
Hawai`i got the run right back in the bottom of the frame as
Kelly Majam led the home-half of the inning off with her NCAA leading, 30th home run of the season over the rightfield fence.
The 'Bows added five runs in the bottom of the second.
Alex Aguirre led the inning off by getting hit by a pitch. A fielding error on the pitcher on a ball hit by Kanani Pu`u-Warrne put two runners on base and a ground out to second pushed both runners in scoring position. Alabama then chose to intentionally walk Majam, which brought Iwata to the plate. Iwata responded by hitting her third grand slam of the season over the scoreboard in left-centerfield.
Hawai`i added another run in the bottom of the fourth, giving UH a 7-1 lead.
Traci Yoshikawa launched her 11th home run of the season and the UH's third homer of the game over the centerfield fence to start the inning. Alabama then relieved starter, Charlotte Morgan with Lauren Sewell who, after hitting Majam with a pitch, got a strike out, a fielder's choice and a foul-fly to left to thwart any rally.
Alabama mounted a rally to score six runs in the top of the fifth to knot the score at 7-7. Jennifer Fenton led the inning off with a double to the right-centerfield gap and Braud drew a walk to put runners at first and second. A ground out to second put both runners into scoring position for Morgan, who came through with a bases-clearing single to left. After a swinging strike out, Amanda Locke got an RBI single and Jazlyn Lunceford drilled an RBI triple into the rightfield corner. Courtney Conley followed with an RBI single, and after a walk, Fenton came up to strike again in the inning with an RBI single to score the tying run.
In the bottom of the fifth, Alabama brought in ace, Kelsi Dunne to try to shut-down the Hawai`i bats. But in the sixth, Hawai`i was able to get the go-ahead run across the plate to go up, 8-7 with half an inning to play. Yoshikawa led the inning off by getting beaned. Majam followed with an opposite-field double to the left-center gap to put both runners into scoring position. Iwata then drove in her fifth RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly to centerfield to drive in Yoshikawa from third for what proved to be the winning run.
In the top of the seventh, the Crimson Tide loaded the bases on a walk, a single, and another walk to bring up their best power hitter and SEC Player of the Year, Charlotte Morgan. But Ricketts got Morgan to pop up to second to end the game.
Hawai`i starter,
Kaia Parnaby held Alabama at bay through the first four innings, before faltering in the fifth inning. Parnaby tossed 4.2 innings, giving up six runs on seven hits with a walk and two strike outs. Ricketts came into close the game, throwing the final 2.1 innings. She gave up on run on five hits with three walks and three strike outs.
Alabama used three pitchers in the game. Morgan started the game, lasting three-plus innings. She gave up seven runs on seven hits with a walk and a strike out. Sewell threw one inning of shut-out ball, with one strike out. Dunne closed the game, firing the final two innings, giving up a run on two hits.
Hawai`i's win forces a deciding Game Three in the three-game Super Regional series tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. (CST). It is the second time in school history that the 'Bows have forced a Game Three in a Super Regional. In 2007, the 'Bows bounced back from a mercy-rule, 9-0 loss to No. 1 Tennessee to defeat the Lady Vols, 9-6 in game two. UH fell 7-1 in the final game.
Tomorrow's game will be broadcast live on ESPN with Michele Smith and Cara Capuono handling the announcing. The game will also be aired live on ESPN1420 with Blaine Kauwe and Lori Santi handling the play-by-play and color duties.
Game 1: Alabama 8, Hawai`i 0 (Five Innings)
Box Score
The Crimson Tide scored early and often. Amanda Locke hit a solo home run in the second inning to give Alabama an early 1-0 lead. But in the third, the 'Tide rolled six runs across the plate, highlighted by a two-run single by Charlotte Morgan with the bases loaded; an RBI single by Whitney Larsen; and a three run shot over the centerfield fence by Locke for her second homer of the game.
Alabama added another run in the bottom of the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Morgan with the bases loaded for their eighth run of the game.
It was just the fourth time this season that the 'Bows were shut out and it marked the second time that UH was mercy-ruled this year.
UH's starter, Ricketts suffered the loss, dropping her record to (27-8). She threw 2.1 innings, giving up seven runs on seven hits with a walk and a strike out. Reliever,
Kaia Parnaby, tossed the final 1.2 innings, giving up a run on two hits with a walk.
Alabama's Dunne, shut down Hawai`i, allowing just two hits in five innings with a walk and seven strike outs.
