The Hawaii softball team closed its weekend in the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic with a 12-3 win over Cal State Northridge today in Las Vegas.
The Rainbow Wahine (9-1) fell behind 2-0 in the first inning then hit three home runs in an eight-run second-inning rally. UH hit two more homers in a four-run sixth inning to end the game by the eight-run mercy rule.
UH freshman catcher Sharla Kliebenstein went 3-for-4 with two home runs and drove in four runs. Jenna Rodriguez hit a solo homer in the second inning and center fielder Kelly Majam hit a grand slam later in the inning. First baseman Sarah Robinson ended the game with a two-run homer in the sixth.
UH right hander Stephanie Ricketts earned her second win of the tournament. The junior gave up four hits and struck out six while walking three in six innings.
Cal State Northridge took the lead in the top of the first when Tracy Allen hit a two-run homer off of Ricketts.
Kliebenstein and Rodriguez tied the game with back-to-back homers to lead off the bottom of the second inning. Robinson walked, Ricketts singled and Dara Pagaduan walked to load the bases for Majam, who gave UH the lead with a grand slam to right field.
UH batted around and Kliebenstein came through with an RBI double in her second at-bat of the inning and Robinson delivered an RBI single.
The Matadors scratched out a run in the third and UH put the game away in the sixth.
Kliebenstein hit a two-run homer, Rodriguez doubled and Robinson closed the game with her first home run of her UH career.
Hawaii’s road trip continues with a doubleheader at UC Riverside on Tuesday.