Wahine start their season in style

The University of Hawaii softball program debuted its "Dollars for Dingers" fundraiser in Thursday’s season opener against Seattle, and Kelly Majam and Dara Pagaduan didn’t wait very long to contribute.

UH’s leadoff and ninth-place hitters in the order belted home runs in their first at-bats of the season to spark the Rainbow Wahine to a 6-2 opening-night victory over the Redhawks in the Oceanic Time Warner Cable Paradise Classic.

The fundraising initiative run by the program’s booster club asks fans to make a pledge for every home run hit this season, and Majam needed just five pitches to record the first tally. The junior center fielder drilled a line-drive over the right-field fence in the bottom of the first for the ninth leadoff homer of her career.

"I have been trying to hit a home run in the first game my whole career," Majam said. "I think everyone wants to do that. I think everyone wants to start off a game or start off a season with a home run and I’m very thankful I did it."

Pagaduan, a senior second baseman, added a blast to left field with two out in the bottom of the second to help settle any opening-game jitters.

"I was just thinking to stay relaxed, and I told the girls before the game started to just pretend like it’s practice, just be comfortable," Pagaduan said.

"I think we really came out and we worked really well together. Everyone was doing their job and everyone fit in."

Where Majam said she’s actually struggled at the plate in recent practices, Pagaduan’s hot start comes after she hit over .600 in fall scrimmages.

"She was just feeling it in the fall," UH head coach Bob Coolen said. "I remember telling her that was a fall to remember and she goes, ‘Yeah, but, I need to carry it (into the season).’ "

The booster club is also collecting pledges for strikeouts by UH pitchers — Kokua for K’s — and UH right-hander Stephanie Ricketts began her senior season with nine strikeouts and no walks in a six-hit complete-game win.

Along with getting the offense started, Majam contributed defensively by throwing out a runner at third to end a Seattle threat in the top of the third inning.

Ricketts protected the 2-0 lead into the sixth and the Wahine offense gave her some added breathing room with a four-run rally. Freshman catcher Kayla Wartner laced a two-run double down the left-field line for her first collegiate hit, and senior Alex Aguirre drove in two more runs with a two-out single up the middle.

Those runs proved especially valuable when Seattle’s Ashley De Vaere hit a two-run homer in the top of the seventh to break up the shutout.

The tournament continues today with four games starting at 1 p.m. Hawaii faces Missouri-Kansas City at 6 p.m. and DePaul at 8.

In Thursday’s opening game, DePaul’s Mary Connolly hit a pinch-hit three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh to lift the Blue Demons to a 5-2 win over UMKC. DePaul’s Katelyn Braget hit a solo homer to tie the game earlier in the inning.