Majam sets career record as Wahine split

The University of Hawaii softball team closed a weekend in Las Vegas with a doubleheader split on Sunday and with Kelly Majam as the program’s new all-time leader in runs scored.

The senior center fielder crossed the plate four times in the doubleheader —twice on home runs — as the No. 20/23 Rainbow Wahine ended their run in the Easton Desert Classic with a 3-1 win over Utah Valley and an 11-9 loss to Nevada.

UH went 3-3 in the four-day tournament and returns home at 8-4. The Wahine will have a week off before starting a 21-game homestand against Memphis on Feb. 27.

Majam scored UH’s first run against Utah Valley and added three more against Nevada to raise her career total to 188, passing the previous mark set by Tia Morenz in 1998.

"It’s a pretty cool record to have just because it’s not just about yourself, it’s about the team," Majam said.

"That’s my job, to get on base. … Those people that were behind me (in the order) my whole career are the ones who helped me get that record, which is an awesome testament to them."

Majam also holds the UH walks record (128) and brought herself around to the plate with a school-record 58 career home runs. She hit four in the tournament and went deep in her first two plate appearances against Nevada on Sunday.

"My swing felt good, and it’s just great to go into the box confident in my hitting," Majam said.

Jessica Iwata, owner of the school’s RBI record, drove in Majam with a single in the top of the first inning against Utah Valley.

UVU tied the game in the bottom of the inning and UH reclaimed the lead on freshman Alyssa Villalpando’s first home run of her college career.

Sharla Kliebenstein homered in the third and pitcher Kaia Parnaby shut down the Wolverines to improve to 6-2 with the complete-game victory. Parnaby struck out seven, walked one and allowed six hits.

Majam’s home runs helped UH take a 5-4 lead after two innings against Nevada. After Nevada scored three runs in the third, Keiki Carlos’ two-run double in the fourth tied the score, and an RBI single by Leisha Li‘ili‘i gave UH an 8-7 lead.

The Wolf Pack opened up a four-run lead on two-run homers by Sara Parsons and Erin Jones.

Jazmine Zamora, who hit .471 (8-for-17) in the tournament, homered in the top of the seventh for UH. But Nevada reliever Karlyn Jones struck out the next two hitters to end the game.

UH freshman Loie Kesterson went 51⁄3 innings in relief of Carlos and took the loss.