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A day after knocking off a higher-ranked opponent, the Hawaii softball team twice found itself on the other end yesterday in the Cathedral City Classic in California.
Nebraska’s Ashley Hagemann limited the Hawaii offense to one hit and the Cornhuskers upset the Rainbow Wahine 3-0.
A defensive breakdown in the seventh inning then led to a 3-2 loss to Syracuse and Hawaii suffered back-to-back losses for the first time this season.
In the opener, left-hander Kaia Parnaby struck out eight and walked none for the Rainbow Wahine, ranked 10th and 11th in this week’s polls. But she lost the duel with Hagemann and No. 18/22 Nebraska (12-1) ran its winning streak to 10.
In the second game, junior Jenna Caira struck out 16 for the Orange (9-3) and held UH to six hits. Hawaii right-hander Stephanie Ricketts surrendered just three hits, struck out six and walked five in her second loss of the season.
Hawaii, which knocked off No. 6 Oklahoma on Thursday, closes its four-game run in the tournament today against Virginia.
In UH’s first game yesterday, Hagemann gave up a leadoff single to Kelly Majam in the bottom of the first inning, then stifled the Wahine offense the rest of the way, striking out seven and allowing just three walks.
Parnaby struck out five through three perfect innings before the Cornhuskers took a 2-0 lead in the fourth. After two singles to lead off the inning, Nebraska freshman Taylor Edwards doubled to score Nikki Haget with the game’s first run. Julie Brechtel then scored from third on a wild pitch.
Both offenses went silent until Brechtel homered to lead off the sixth inning to give Nebraska a 3-0 lead, and UH couldn’t mount a comeback against Hagemann.
In UH’s second game, the Wahine broke on top against Syracuse on an RBI single by Alex Aguirre, scoring Jessica Iwata in the bottom of the first.
The Orange tied the game on a sacrifice fly in the third and took the lead with two unearned runs in the top of the seventh.
The Wahine committed four errors in the inning to provide oxygen to the Syracuse rally with Stephanie Watts and Lisaira Daniels each scoring on UH errors.
The Wahine drew to within a run in the bottom of the inning when Sarah Robinson singled, advanced to third on a passed ball and wild pitch and scored on another wild pitch. But with Majam at the plate representing the tying run, Caira came up with her 16th strikeout to end the game.
Nebraska 3, Hawaii 0
At Cathedral City, California
| Nebraska (12-1) | 000 | 201 | 0 | – | 3 | 7 | 0 |
| Hawaii (12-2) | 000 | 000 | 0 | – | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Ashley Hagemann and Taylor Edwards; Kaia Parnaby and Sharla Kliebenstein. W-Hagemann (9-1). L-Parnaby (4-1).
Leading hitters-UN: Julie Brechtel 2-3, HR, 2 runs, RBI; Edwards 2-3, RBI; Nikki Haget 1-3, run. UH: Kelly Majam 1-3.
Syracuse 3, Hawaii 2
At Cathedral City, California
| Syracuse (9-3) | 001 | 000 | 2 | – | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| Hawaii (12-3) | 100 | 000 | 1 | – | 2 | 6 | 5 |
Jenna Caira and Ashley Dimon; Stephanie Ricketts and Sharla Kliebenstein. W-Caira (6-1). L-Ricketts (7-2).
Leading hitters-SU: Rachel Helman 2-4; Shirley Daniels 1-4, 2 runs, SB; Lacey Kohl RBI; Hallie Gibbs RBI. UH: Alex Aguirre 1-3, RBI, SB; Jessica Iwata 1-3, run; Sarah Robinson 1-3, run.
