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House to honor Hawaii Pacific team
The Hawaii Pacific softball team will be recognized by the Hawaii House of Representatives tomorrow for winning the NCAA Division II title last May. The team went 50-8, setting a school record for victories.
The National Fastpitch Coaches Association also selected the Sea Warriors’ softball staff as its Division II coaching staff of the year.
HPU is ranked fourth nationally.
UH drops in softball polls
A rough end to its road trip led to a drop in the polls for the Hawaii softball team.
The Rainbow Wahine (12-4) appeared at No. 14 in the USA Today/NFCA poll and No. 16 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 released yesterday. UH was No. 10 and 11 in last week’s polls.
UH went 1-4 in the Cathedral City Classic last weekend, beating Oklahoma before losing to Nebraska, Syracuse and Virginia.
Georgia (14-1) tops the NFCA poll and Alabama (16-0) moved to No. 1 in the USA Softball ranking. Western Athletic Conference member Fresno State (6-1) entered the NFCA poll at No. 23.
UH returns to Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium to host the Bank of Hawaii Invitational, which starts Friday. The three-day tournament also features St. Bonaventure, South Dakota State and Weber State.
HPU splits with Grand Canyon
Breanne Patton pitched a two-hitter to lead Hawaii Pacific to a 7-0 victory over Grand Canyon in the first game of a softball doubleheader yesterday at Okita Field.
Celina Garces went 3-for-3 with four RBIs to lead the Sea Warriors (11-3, 2-2 Pacific West) on offense.
In the second game, Kirsten Linert outdueled Melissa Kirby in a 1-0 win by the Antelopes (8-7, 3-1).
Linert hurled a four-hitter, while Kirby allowed three hits.
Rachel Meyer’s sacrifice fly scored Claire Zampini with the winning run in the sixth inning.
Hawaii-Hilo stops Grand Canyon
Ronnie Loeffler pitched a nine-inning three hitter to lead Hawaii-Hilo to a 6-1 baseball victory over Grand Canyon yesterday at Wong Stadium.
Zachary Hamasaki and Jonathan James had two hits each for the Vulcans (6-2, 3-0 Pacific West), while Dan Hennigs drove in two runs.
The Antelopes dropped to 3-9 and 0-3.
BYUH blanks Chaminade
Brigham Young-Hawaii dropped Chaminade 9-0 in women’s tennis yesterday in Laie.
Yuan Jia, Elwin Li Boud, Annie Hwan and Sasha Ulbrichtova won in both doubles and singles matches for the Seasiders.
Loyola Marymount edges HPU
Loyola Marymount defeated Hawaii Pacific 4-3 in women’s tennis yesterday at Central Oahu Regional Park.
Zora Vickova, Aleksandra Stankovic and Florie Paquay won singles matches for the Sea Warriors, while the doubles team of Vickova and Ielyzaveta Rybakova also won their match.
UHH finishes 10th in Texas
Hawaii-Hilo finished in 10th place in the St. Edward’s Invitational golf tournament at the Grey Rock Golf Club in Austin, Texas.
Tarleton State won the tourney at 613, and the Vulcans were 44 shots back.
Incarnate Word’s Joanna de Sa Peirera took top honors at 2-over 144.
UHH’s Nyssa Aoki finished in a tie for 26th at 162.
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Star-Advertiser staff
