comscore Grand slams power Rainbow Wahine past San Jose State | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
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Grand slams power Rainbow Wahine past San Jose State

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The University of Hawaii softball team bounced back from a lopsided loss in grand fashion on Friday.

A night after surrendering an eight-run first inning in a loss to California, the Rainbow Wahine hit two grand slams in their first turn at bat Friday night  — the first by Leisha Li’ili’i and the second by Lindsey Willmon — in a 14-1 rout of San Jose State in the Pepsi Malihini Kipa Aloha Tournament.

The Wahine added two more runs in the second and Keiki Carlos and Ulu Matagiese both hit two-run homers in the third to cap UH’s second highest run total of the season.

The tournament continues Saturday with UH (10-8) facing Longwood at 3:30 p.m at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

After being on the short end of a 12-4 loss to Cal, UH’s Kanani Aina Cabrales walked SJSU’s first two batters in the top of the first on Friday but escaped thanks to an unassisted double play turned by shortstop Sarina Jaramillo.

Willmon was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the first, Kayla Wartner singled and Heather Morales walked to load the bases with one out. Li’ili’i then drilled a 1-1 pitch to left center for an opposite-field grand slam.

UH loaded the bases again with two out and after a pitching change Willmon hammered her fifth home run of the season to give UH an 8-0 lead.

Jaramillo singled in a run and Aina Cabrales drew a bases-loaded walk in the second inning. The UH onslaught continued in the third when Carlos and Matagiese both homered.

SJSU (13-4) scratched out a run in the top of the fifth, but Aina Cabrales closed out the win to snap the Spartans’ seven-game winning streak.

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