UH gets relief with mercy-rule win over Harvard

Approaching the end of a 16-day grind, the University of Hawaii softball team welcomed a chance for an early finish.

A four-run first inning propelled UH to a 10-2 win over Harvard in the first game of a doubleheader on Friday and the Rainbow Wahine put a game away via the eight-run rule for the first time this season.

Heather Morales sparked the UH offense with a two-run double in the first inning, Nicole Lopez launched a two-run home run in the fourth and UH ended the game with a three-run rally in the fifth.

“The kids are swinging it, they came out relaxed,” UH coach Bob Coolen said.

UH’s first double-digit run total of the season made for a quick night for Rainbow Wahine right-hander Dana Thomsen (7-3). The junior made her ninth appearance in UH’s run of 19 games in 16 days and gave up six hits, struck out seven and walked three in a complete-game victory.

Harvard’s Jillian Leslie broke up the shutout with a two-run homer in the top of the fourth inning to cut UH’s lead to 5-2. But Lopez answered in the bottom of the inning with her team-leading sixth home run of the season to keep the Wahine in control.

“Dana was missing her spots, elevating her screwballs a little bit, not as sharp as usual,” Coolen said. “But that’s going to happen at the end of three weeks when you’re constantly asking them to refuel and get going.”

UH closes the Hawaii Pacific Health Rainbow Wahine Classic — and the nonconference schedule — today against Purdue (10-19). The tournament finale is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

Morales opened the scoring when her sharp grounder zipped through the infield and rolled to the fence for a two-run double. The Wahine put runners on first and third with two out and executed a double steal with Alia Monges, running for Morales, scoring UH’s third run.

UH catcher Heather Cameron drove in another with her fifth double in the last five games and she added to the lead with an RBI groundout in the third.

After the teams traded homers in the fourth, UH ended the game with a two-out rally in the fifth. Danielle Garcielita singled to score Cameron, stole second and the ensuing errant throw enabled Justine Garner to score. Sarah Muzik then drilled a single up the middle to end the game.

“I didn’t want Dana to go out back there two more innings … no, let’s get it over with,” Coolen said. “When it started manufacturing itself in that inning, I was just hoping everyone came though and they did.”

Hawaii 3, Marist 0

Sarah Muzik’s line-drive single with two out in the bottom of the fifth inning broke a scoreless tie and UH junior Brittany Hitchcock (11-6) finished off her sixth shutout of the season to complete the doubleheader sweep.

At Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium

>> Harvard (8-8) 000 20 — 2 6 3
>> Hawaii (19-10) 401 23 — 10 10 0

Kathleen Duncan and Elizabeth Shively. Dana Thomsen and Heather Cameron. W— Thomsen. L—Duncan.

Leading hitters—Harvard: Maddy Kaplan, 2B; Jillian Leslie, HR, 2 RBIs.

Hawaii: Danielle Garcielita, 2-4, RBI; Sarah Muzik, RBI; Nicole Lopez, 2-3, HR, 2 RBIs; Heather Morales, 2B, 2 RBIs;Cameron, 2-3, 2B, 2 RBIs.

>> Marist (12-10) 000 000 0 — 0 3 1
>> Hawaii (20-10) 000 030 x — 3 3 0

Kallen Leeseberg and Rebecca Freeman. Brittany Hitchcock and Callee Heen. W—Hitchcock. L—Leeseberg.

Leading hitters—Marist: Freeman, 2-2, 2B. Hawaii: Sarah Muzik, 2-3, RBI.

FRIDAY

>> Harvard 7, Purdue 3
>> Marist 5, UConn 0

TODAY

>> UConn vs. Harvard, 9 a.m.
>> Marist vs. Purdue, 11 a.m.
>> Purdue vs. Hawaii, 1 p.m.