Coolen still waiting for milestone win

Missed opportunities defined the University of Hawaii softball team’s first shot at giving coach Bob Coolen win No. 1,000.

The Rainbow Wahine took an early lead against Seattle on Friday, but stranded 10 runners on base thereafter and Kaylee Ree’s grand slam in the third inning was the difference in the Red Hawks’ 4-3 win to cap the first day of the Coca-Cola Malihini Kipa Aloha Tournament.

With Coolen at 999 career wins, UH jumped ahead on Nicole Lopez’s two-run homer in the first inning and threatened to take command later in the frame. But the Wahine (6-7) left the bases loaded and Seattle right-hander Andie Larkins managed to frustrate the Wahine for most of the evening in a complete-game victory. Larkins worked around 10 hits, walked three and didn’t record a strikeout for Seattle (4-11).

“The energy was there when we first came out,” Lopez said. “It just kind of died down, got kind of content after we had two runs on them. Just have to come out stronger and believe we can actually win.”

UH junior Brittany Hitchcock (4-5) struck out two, walked one and gave up nine hits, including Ree’s first home run of the season.

“(The Wahine) came out gangbusters, they came out being able to put away that game early and just let them stick around. That was frustrating because … one pitch.”

The three-day tournament continues with four games scheduled today. UH is slated to face Charleston Southern and Toledo in a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m.

Lopez gave UH the lead with her third home run of the season, scoring Sarah Muzik ahead of her. The Wahine loaded the bases on a single and two walks, but Larkins escaped when Heather Cameron lined out second.

Seattle ninth-place hitter Alyson Matriotti led off the third by drawing a walk in a 13-pitch duel with Hitchcock. Nicole Bolasky and Paige Bouska singled to load the bases and Ree emptied them to give Seattle a 4-2 lead.

“(Hitchcock) came in with two curveballs. The first one she missed, the second one she elevated,” Coolen said.

UH loaded the bases in the fourth and Heather Morales drove in Danielle Garcielita with a sacrifice fly to cut the lead to one. The Wahine put the tying run on base in each of the last three innings, but Larkins, backed up by a solid defensive performance, hung on.

“It happens, the way the ball bounces in our sport,” Coolen said. “So we’ll come back tomorrow.”

At Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium

>> Seattle (4-11) 004 000 0 — 4 9 1

>> Hawaii (6-7) 200 100 0 — 3 10 1

Andie Larkins and Susanne Morris. Brittany Hitchcock and Heather Cameron. W—Larkins. L—Hitchcock.

Leading hitters—Seattle: Nicole Bolasky, 3-3, 2B; Kaylee Ree, 2-4, grand slam. Hawaii: Sarah Muzik, 3-4; Nicole Lopez, 2-3, HR, 2 RBIs; Heather Morales, RBI; Callee Heen, 2-4; Angelique Ramos, 2-3.

Friday’s early game

>> Toledo 6, Charleston Southern 5 (8)

Today’s games

>> Seattle vs. Charleston Southern, 10 a.m.

>> Seattle vs. Toledo, noon

>> Charleston Southern vs. Hawaii, 2 p.m.

>> Toledo vs. Hawaii, 4 p.m.

Sunday’s games

>> No. 2 seed vs. No. 3 seed, 10 a.m.

>> No. 1 seed vs. No. 4 seed, noon

>> Third place, 2 p.m.

>> Championship, 4 p.m.