By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
The Hawai‘i Wahine will remember the Titans. Especially pitcher Gina Oaks.
 |
| Hawai‘i’s Stacie Hirano scores on a three-run homer by Trisha Ramos against Cal State-Fullerton. UH lost to Fullerton, 6-4 and 8-0.
Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser |
The sophomore right-hander pitched a one-hitter as 14th-ranked Cal State-Fullerton beat the Wahine, 8-0, in the title game of the Chevron Paradise Classic yesterday at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
The game was shortened to six innings because of the eight-run mercy rule. It was Oaks’ fifth win of the tournament. She also got a save earlier in the day against the Wahine.
The Titans, who improved to 12-3, went 7-0 in the tournament.
"We just came from New Mexico, did really well there, so we were pretty fired up to come to Hawai‘i," Oaks said.
Oaks, the Most Valuable Player of the tournament, allowed a lead-off single to Natalie Gonzales, then retired 14 batters in a row before hitting Kristin Anderson with a pitch in the fifth. The only other Wahine to reach first was Tyree Woodruff on an error by second baseman Amy La Rocque to start the sixth inning.
"She had a good rise" pitch, said Anderson. "We went after her rise."
 |
| Wahine pitcher Desiree Duran rifles a pitch against Cal State-Fullerton in a morning match-up.
Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser |
Oaks, who struck out nine, helped her cause with a two-run single in the sixth. But the bulk of her run support came from catcher Jenny Topping, who batted 4-for-4 with two doubles and a solo home run to the tennis courts beyond center field.
Yasmin Mossadeghi hit a two-run home run in the third inning in the same area.
"Gina had a phenomenal weekend as an athlete in general, hitting and pitching," Fullerton coach Michelle Gromacki said.
All three Wahine pitchers were tagged for runs. Starter Desiree Duran (2-2) pitched two innings, Janelle Gonzales the middle three and Sheri Oronoz the final inning.
The Wahine (10-6 overall, 4-4 tournament) lost twice yesterday to the Titans. In an earlier game, Fullerton overcame a 3-0 deficit to win, 6-4.
Trisha Ramos hit a three-run homer for Hawai‘i, but Oaks pitched two scoreless innings of relief to record a save.
NOTES: The Wahine advanced to the title game by beating UC-Santa Barbara, 5-0, behind Felicity Witt’s three-hitter. April Crowell had three hits and Tyree Woodruff had three RBIs. . . . Hawai‘i needed to beat Fullerton in their second meeting to force an overall championship. That would have meant the Wahine playing four games yesterday.
[back to top] |
