April 15, 2012

Box Score

HONOLULU - Hawaii hit four more home runs en route to a doubleheader sweep of Louisiana Tech, defeating the Lady Techsters 9-1 and 8-0 at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium Saturday.

No. 14 Hawaii improved to 35-4 on the season and 9-2 in Western Athletic Conference play, while Louisiana Tech fell to 18-23 overall, 5-6 in league action.

In the first game of the day, Louisiana Tech jumped out to an early 1-0 lead but squandered two bases loaded opportunities in the first two frames as Hawaii All-American pitcher Stephanie Ricketts worked out of jams both times.

In the top of the first inning, Amanda Krueger walked and Janna Frandrup reached on a fielder's choice where Hawaii failed to record an out. Melanie Goff then singled to centerfield to load the bases for Erin Kipp, who drove home the first run of the day with a walk.

However, Ricketts induced a shallow fly ball by Katelynn Hill for the second out and a ground ball out by Meghan Knowles to end the threat.

Kelly Majam, who hit two home runs in Friday night's UH win, led the bottom of the inning off with a home run to left field, tying the game at 1-1. Hawaii capitalized on some control issues by Michelle Jones, who walked three batters and hit a fourth in the opening frame as the Rainbow Wahine scored four runs.

In the top of the second inning, Alayna Kipp singled to lead off the frame and then two outs later, Krueger lined a double off the rightfield fence to put runners on second and third. Frandrup walked to load the bases for Goff, who lined out to right centerfield for the final out of the inning.

Hawaii added one in the second, three in the fourth and one in the fifth to record the 9-1 win.

Trailing 7-1 in the top of the fifth, Tech appeared to have an opportunity to cut into the UH lead but a controversial call by the first base umpire cost the Lady Techsters at least one run and plenty of momentum. Krueger and Frandrup reached to open the frame. Goff singled through the right side for an apparent RBI which would have cut the lead to 7-2 and put runners on first and third with no outs.

However, the first base umpire ruled the ball hit Frandrup on the back of the calf and called her out, sending the runners back to first and second. Tech head coach Sarah Dawson argued vehemently on what television replays proved was the incorrect call.

Tech's run was removed and the momentum lost as Ricketts then retired the next two batters to get out of the inning unscathed.

Jones (11-10) took the loss for Tech, allowing a season-high nine earned runs on eight hits and eight walks in 4.1 innings of action.

Goff led Tech with two hits while Kipp and Krueger each added one.

In the second game of the doubleheader, Hawaii used a five-run third inning to blow open a close game.

For the second straight contest, Louisiana Tech had an opportunity for a big inning early, loading the bases with two outs in the top of the first on a single by Janine Godwin and a pair of two-out walks to Goff and Erin Kipp. However, Hill struck out swinging as Kaia Parnaby pitched out of the jam.

Leading 1-0 on a Sarah Robinson solo home run off Tech starter Erin Kipp in the first, UH capitalized on two costly errors by the Lady Techsters in the third. With runners on first and second and one out, Leisha Li'ili'I hit a sharp ground ball to short that Goff fielded cleanly, but her throw to first base was in the dirt, allowing one run to score to make the game 2-0.

Dara Pagaduan then hit a ground ball that Goff misplayed as two more runs scored on the play, upping the advantage to 4-0. Makani Duhaylonsod then followed with a two-run blast to make the score 6-0 - with all five runs in the third inning unearned.

After Tech failed to score in the top of the fourth inning despite getting two more runners on base, Hawaii hit another two-run home run - this one by Jessica Iwata off Michelle Jones to make the score 8-0.

Parnaby retired Tech in order in the top of the fifth to pick up her 13th win of the season.

The Lady Techsters return home next weekend to host WAC softball affiliate member Brigham Young University in a three-game series starting Friday at 6 p.m.