Parnaby shines as Wahine roll

The elements tested Kaia Parnaby’s focus during her two appearances over the weekend. But the left-hander continued to string zeroes across the scoreboard through the wind and rain blowing across Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

The University of Hawaii junior completed a scoreless weekend on Sunday as the 19th-ranked Rainbow Wahine swept through the Pepsi Malihini Kipa Aloha Tournament.

Parnaby struck out nine, walked none and posted her second shutout of the tournament and fifth of the season in a 4-0 win over Marist as UH improved to 21-0.

Earlier in the afternoon, senior right-hander Stephanie Ricketts earned the win in UH’s 9-0 five-inning win over Robert Morris and the Wahine finished the weekend having allowed just one run over four games.

While Ricketts (12-0) pitched in relative comfort weather-wise, Parnaby dealt with blustery conditions at various points in her appearances Saturday and Sunday.

"I’m not one to like the wind and rain, and it just so happened it fell upon me the last two days," Parnaby said. "I just focused on the hitter and (catcher Kayla Wartner’s) glove and keeping the grip on the ball."

Parnaby (9-0), who shut out Radford on Saturday, allowed four hits on Sunday and raised her season strikeout total to 57 while lowering her earned-run average to 0.48.

"It’s big momentum knowing I threw well and knowing I have good defense behind me," Parnaby said. "Strikeouts are cool, but it’s not one of my big things."

UH belted five home runs in Sunday’s doubleheader, two by freshman Leisha Li‘ili‘i, who went 5-for-9 with three homers and a double over the last four games.

Marist freshman Melanie White kept the UH offense contained early on before giving up solo home runs to Makani Duhaylonsod-Kaleimamahu in the third inning and Li‘ili‘i in the fifth. Jessica Iwata padded the lead with a two-run homer in the sixth.

In the earlier game, UH scored eight runs in the bottom of the first inning in a mercy-rule victory over Robert Morris. Li‘ili‘i hit a two-run homer to center field in the first and Sharla Kliebenstein drilled a solo shot to center in the second inning.

Ricketts (12-0) struck out six and gave up two hits in her sixth shutout of the season.

The Wahine open the Spring Fling tournament on Tuesday against No. 6 Texas. UH will also face Marist, No. 1 California, No. 21 Texas A&M and Winthrop in the five-day tournament.

"Any time you play a Top 25 team it’s going to be a good game, especially when we’re Top 25 as well," Parnaby said. "It’s going to be anyone’s game, really. We’re all really good teams, it’s going to be a challenge and it’s going to be fun."