Dishin’ it out

By Jason Kaneshiro

jkaneshiro@staradvertiser.com

Ulu Matagiese has taken her share of bruises at the plate in her first two seasons with the University of Hawaii softball team.

The sophomore from Waimea High took a turn inflicting punishment in UH’s last two games.

Matagiese hammered a go-ahead three-run home run and the Rainbow Wahine continued their power surge in an 8-3 win over Longwood on Saturday in the Pepsi Malihini Kipa Aloha Tournament.

Matagiese’s blast was the second of UH’s three home runs after the Wahine (11-8) fell behind 3-0 in the second inning. 

“A little sluggish in the beginning. It was an eye-opener when Longwood started scoring and we had to come back and couldn’t ease up. We had to come up and fight,” Matagiese said.

Matagiese, who took over in left field last week, tends to crowd the plate and was hit by pitches a team-high 12 times as a freshman. She’s taken four for the team so far this season, but has done more damage swinging the bat this week in hitting her first two homers of the season.

“She’s so strong. If she gets extension you see what happens,” UH coach Bob Coolen said.

“Sometimes she doesn’t mind getting hit and getting on base, but, man, she can change the nature of a game in a heartbeat with her hitting.”

Longwood jumped ahead with a single run in the first and two more in the second, starting with a Jamie Barbour homer. 

Rachel Lack ignited the UH offense with a solo homer in the bottom of the second and Leisha Li‘ili‘i delivered a two-out, bases-loaded single in the third to drive in Tayana Mata and Keiki Carlos with the tying runs.

Matagiese then worked the count full and turned on a pitch to give the Wahine the lead with a shot that cleared the net beyond the left-field fence.

“Just before I went into the box, Keiki came up and talked some confidence into me, and when Leisha hit that, I was like, ‘OK it’s time,’ ” Matagiese said.

“They were driving inside on me, so I stepped away from the plate, I saw it and cranked it,” she said.

Heather Morales added a two-run homer in the fifth inning, giving UH 10 home runs in 15 innings at bat in the tournament. The Wahine have scored 22 of their 26 runs this week via the long ball.

While the offense rallied the Wahine, Kanani Aina Cabrales quieted Longwood (2-6) with five innings of scoreless relief and earned her second win in as many days.

Aina Cabrales (6-5) entered the game in the third inning in relief of Brittany Hitchcock and held Longwood to two hits while striking out a season-high seven.

“Our team has come together so well these past two days,” Aina Cabrales said. “Today we put the ball in play when there were runners on, and as a pitcher that’s the best cushion … not to make mistakes, but it’s more of a comfort.”

Aina Cabrales will be available in the bullpen again on Sunday when the Rainbow Wahine close the tournament against San Jose State at 3 p.m. in a rematch of UH’s 14-1 win on Friday. Morales is scheduled to make her first start of the season for UH.

Libby Morris, Jenna Carnes (4) and Megan Baltzell. Brittany Hitchcock, Kanani Aina Cabrales (3) and Kayla Wartner. W—Aina Cabrales. L—Morris.

Leading hitters—Longwood: Emily Murphy, 2-4, 2B, RBI; Glen Walters, RBI; Jamie Barbour, HR; Haleigh Kilby, 2-3. Hawaii: Heather Morales, HR, 2 RBIs; Leisha Li’ili’i, 2-4, 2 RBIs; Ulu Matagiese, 2-3, HR, 3 RBIs; Rachel Lack, 2-3, HR:

Saturday 

California 3, San Jose State 2

Sunday 

Longwood vs. California, 10 a.m.

Longwood vs. San Jose State, 12:30 p.m.

San Jose State vs. Hawaii, 3 p.m.