Heather Morales provided a morale-boosting performance in the Hawaii softball team’s win over Saint Mary’s on Sunday.

The Rainbow Wahine freshman rebounded from a rough appearance on Saturday by tossing her third shutout of the season in UH’s 6-0 victory in the third-place game of the Bank of Hawaii Invitational at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

A day after giving up six runs in 11/3 innings in UH’s 9-0 loss to North Carolina on Saturday, Morales strung seven zeroes across the scoreboard in her fourth complete game.

"Coming back was a little difficult, but I had teammates who kept talking to me all the time," Morales said. "I had struggles throughout this game, but with Sharla (Kliebenstein) helping me behind the plate it was good."

Morales gave up seven hits, walked three and struck out one while improving to 6-4, and got offensive support in Keiki Carlos’ two-run double and two-run homers by Leisha Li’ili’i and Lindsey Willmon. Freshman shortstop Sarina Jaramillo went 3-for-3 in the ninth spot in the order and scored twice.

The win ended a three-game skid that began with a 3-2 loss to Saint Mary’s on Friday. The Wahine were outscored 18-3 in a doubleheader sweep against North Carolina on Saturday before Sunday’s bounce-back win sent them into a bye week at 9-7.

"It was a good confidence booster and we learned a lot about ourselves this weekend," said Willmon, who hit .412 with two home runs in five games and was named to the all-tournament team.

After the Wahine played 16 games in the season’s first three weeks, the break in the schedule offers a chance to "recharge, rejuvenate, get into the weight room … give them a little time off," UH coach Bob Coolen said. "We have to do a lot of learning. We have to do a lot of positive soul-searching."

Morales didn’t allow a run in her first 20 innings this season, but had seen her ERA rise to 4.67 over her past seven appearances entering Sunday’s start. After Saturday’s brief outing, Morales said she was "trying to stay up as much as I can, just trying to let it go. I just need to keep focused a little more."

Morales escaped a jam after Saint Mary’s put runners on second and third with one out in the first inning and ended up stranding nine Gaels runners on base in the game, including four in scoring position.

Coolen noted the adjustments Morales made when she didn’t get calls on the outside corner and was able to induce six flyouts to Carlos in right field.

"That meant that pitch was working and it was staying down, they weren’t lifting it out of the ballpark," he said.

Carlos gave Morales the lead in the fourth inning with a two-run double off the fence in left-center. Li’ili’i then drilled the next pitch out to right-center to give UH a 4-0 lead. Willmon capped the scoring in the sixth with her sixth home run of the season.

The tournament’s championship game preceded the third-place contest, and San Jose State rallied to a 5-4 win over North Carolina.

Jessica Garcia erased a two-run deficit with a grand slam in the top of the sixth and the Spartans held off the Tar Heels’ rally in the seventh.

UH returns to action in the Spring Fling Tournament, March 5-9. The tournament includes California, Pacific and James Madison.

At Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium

Heather Morales and Sharla Kliebenstein. Katie Moss, Sarah Lira (3), Lujane Mussadi (7) and Andrea Hazel. W—Morales. L—Moss.

Leading hitters—Hawaii: Lindsey Willmon, 2-4, HR, 2 RBIs; Kayla Wartner, 2-3; Keiki Carlos, 2B, 2 RBIs; Leisha Li’ili’i, 2-3, HR, 2 RBIs; Sarina Jaramillo, 3-3. Saint Mary’s: Erica Musgrave, 2-3; Cassidy Szeredy, 2B.

Championship game
San Jose State 5, North Carolina 4

All-tournament team—Kristen Brown, North Carolina; Devin Caldwell, San Jose State; Jessica Garcia, San Jose State; Amber Parrish, North Carolina; Jessie Hufstetler, San Jose State; Lindsey Willmon, Hawaii; Aquilla Mateen, North Carolina; Michele Cox, San Jose State; Lori Spingola, North Carolina; Cassidy Szeredy, St. Mary’s. Most Valuable Player–Mateen. Most Valuable Pitcher–Spingola.