Softball drops a 3-2 decision at Hawai’i

Friday, March 18

Honolulu, Hawai'i

Midnight

University of Texas

18-6

Hawai'i

16-15

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Texas	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	2	7	1
Hawaii	0	0	0	2	0	1	X	3	4	2

03.19.2016 | Softball

Box Score

Longhorns wrap-up the Rainbow Wahine Classic on Saturday at 7 p.m. CT with the finale vs. UH

HONOLULU, Hawai'i – On Friday night at the Rainbow Wahine Classic, Hawai'i fought its way out of a 2-0, fourth-inning hole to rally past Texas softball (18-6), 3-2.

Senior second baseman Stephanie Ceo led the Longhorns offense by going 2-for-3 at the dish with a run scored and a RBI, while junior third baseman Celina Felix added a 1-for-4 effort with a RBI. Senior center fielder Lindsey Stephens (1-for-4), junior pitcher Tiarra Davis (1-for-4), junior shortstop Devon Tunning (1-for-3, run) and senior right fielder Holly Kern (1-for-2) all added single hits.

In the circle for Texas, Davis allowed two earned runs on four hits with six walks and six strikeouts over 7.0 innings in dropping to 11-5 on the season.

After Texas left a runner stranded in the top of the first, Hawai'i used consecutive singles from third baseman Nicole Lopez and right fielder Keiki Carlos to start a threat with one-out runners on the corners during the bottom half. Center fielder Ulu Matagiese stepped up to the dish and hit a high chopper to the right of Davis in the circle. The hurler leapt high to grab the ball, spun quickly and fired a strike to the plate as senior catcher Erin Shireman made the tag for a run-preventing second out.

The Longhorns got something started in the top of the third as a lead-off bunt single from Ceo and a one-out base knock up the middle from Stephens put runners on the corners. With two in scoring position following a stolen base, Davis hit a bouncer to short. Hawai'i's Breanna Ojala decided to try to cut down Ceo trying to scramble back to third, but failed as UT loaded the bases. Felix followed with a RBI groundout to second as the Horns nabbed a 1-0 advantage.

With Davis in control from the circle, Tunning got another scoring threat started by leading off the fourth with a single. With the runner stationed at second following a sacrifice bunt, Ceo delivered a RBI on a base knock down the left field line as Tunning scored easily for a 2-0 lead.

Hawaii's Matagiese drew a lead-off walk to get the bottom of the fourth started off positively for the Rainbow Wahine. The free pass came immediately back to hurt the Horns as Ojala followed by driving a two-run HR over the left field wall, tying the score at 2-2.

Stephens opened the top of the fifth by lining a ball to first that ricocheted off the glove of Rachael Turner for an error. With the runner at second on the miscue, Davis singled on a 0-2 pitch through the left side to put runners at the corners with still no one out. After a grounder to third, UT tried a squeeze, but the bunt didn't end up far enough out in front of the plate. UH catcher Heather Cameron stepped out, gathered the ball and tagged Stephens trying to score from third. A Texas bouncer to second ended a once promising half-inning with no damage as the Horns missed a huge chance.

The Rainbow Wahine got a pair aboard with two outs in the bottom of the fifth on a walk and an infield single, but couldn't take the lead as Felix handled a bouncer to third to end the threat.

Another lead-off free pass again hurt the Longhorns in the bottom of the sixth. With second baseman Breanna Mata at second after a walk and a sac bunt and two down, a wild pitch on ball four to pinch hitter Rachel Lack allowed Mata to take off for third. A throw trying to get her bounced away from the UT defense and over to the fencing as the UH runner scored to grant the Rainbow Wahine their first lead at 3-2.

Facing one last chance in the top of the seventh, Texas got a base runner as Davis reached on a one-out throwing error by Ojala. Unfortunately, a strikeout and an unassisted play at first ended the UH victory.