Another third-inning burst carries Wahine

Maybe there’s something about the third inning.

Through 21 games, Hawaii had produced more runs in its turn at bat in the third than any other inning. The Rainbow Wahine added six more runs to that total on Wednesday in an 8-0 win over Valparaiso on the opening day of the Pepsi Rainbow Wahine Classic.

Keiki Carlos’ two-run homer and Sarina Jaramillo’s two-run double highlighted UH’s outburst in the third that gave the Wahine an 8-0 lead and the Rainbow Wahine ended the game in the fifth inning. UH (12-10) has outscored its opponents 32-10 in the third.

UH left-hander Loie Kesterson held Valparaiso (4-16) to two hits in the second shutout of her career.

Kesterson struck out two and walked five in UH’s second mercy rule win of the season.

The tournament continues Thursday with the Rainbow Wahine scheduled to face James Madison at 6 p.m. and BYU at 8.

UH coach Bob Coolen said former Rainbow Wahine All-American Stephanie Ricketts spoke to the team during practice on Tuesday and the current ‘Bows jumped out early on Wednesday.

The first inning had been one of UH’s least productive entering the game, with UH scoring just nine runs, but the Wahine took the lead when Carlos lined a double to right-center to score Jazmine Zamora with the game’s first run. Ulu Matagiese later delivered a two-out single to center to score Carlos from third.

Carlos extended UH’s lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the third with a two-run line-drive home run to left-center, her third homer of the season.

"She’s doing what she does — that’s relax at the plate and attack the ball," UH coach Bob Coolen said. "She has real good legs, real good drive and that’s where a lot of her power comes from. She has one of the prettier swings I’ve seen."

UH put two more runners on and a throwing error on Sharla Kliebenstein’s bunt allowed Kayla Wartner to score UH’s fifth run. 

After a pitching change, Jaramillo drilled a two-run double into the left-center gap and Lindsey Willmon eventually scored her on a fielder’s-choice grounder to give UH an eight-run lead, bringing the mercy rule into play.

Valparaiso threatened in the top of the fourth when the Crusaders loaded the bases on a double and two walks. Zamora, who went 3-for-3 at the plate, got UH out of the inning with an unassisted forceout at second.

"I told (Kesterson) we can’t defend walks. Let’s get going, put the ball down the middle the plate and if they hit it they hit it," Coolen said.