April 17, 2010

Box Score

HONOLULU - Jenna Rodriguez's two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning lifted 25th ranked Hawaii to a 3-1 win over Louisiana Tech late Friday night in game one of the Western Athletic Conference series at Rainbow Wahine Stadium.

Hawaii pitcher Stephanie Ricketts (18-6) made the blast stand up as she outdueled Lady Techster ace Meghan Krieg (16-10), who lost for only the second time in 18 career starts in WAC regular season games.

Ricketts tied her career-high with 11 strikeouts while scattering six hits and holding LA Tech scoreless until a solo home run by Molly Goza in the top of the seventh inning.

Krieg allowed only three runs on six hits and four walks while striking out eight against Hawaii (34-11, 12-0 WAC), which entered the game as the nation's leading home run hitting team. UH has hit 107 home runs now in 45 games, including 44 in 12 conference games.

Krieg's performance was impressive, holding Hawaii to only three runs. UH entered the game having scored nine runs or more in each of its last eight games and the three runs were the fewest the Rainbow Wahine have scored in their 12 WAC contests.

Tech recorded singles in each of the first three innings - one by Amberly Waits, Meghan Knowles and Kendra Harmon - but Ricketts worked around the baserunners, holding the Lady Techsters in check.

Krieg pitched out of numerous jams throughout the game, including inducing Jessica Iwata into a pop up with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the second inning.

Hawaii plated one run in the third as Krieg hit Alexandra Aguirre with a pitch with the bases loaded and no outs to make the score 3-0. However, Krieg then struck out three straight Rainbow Wahine batters swinging to get out of the dilemma without further damage.

Trailing 3-0, Tech threatened in the top of the sixth inning as Waits and Jessica Kirby recorded back-to-back singles with two outs. After a wild pitch allowed both runners to advance, Ricketts struck out Knowles looking on a questionable called third strike on a full count pitch to end the inning.

With one out in the top of the seventh, Goza blasted a solo home run over the left field fence for her second homer of the season.

Ricketts then retired Amanda Parsonage and Valerie Quiroga for the final two outs of the game.

Waits led Tech with two hits while Harmon, Kirby, Knowles and Goza each registered one hit.

The two teams will return to the diamond to play a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 9 p.m. CT.