Posted on: Saturday, April 21, 2001

Split with Portland State keeps Wahine out of WAC lead

By Kyle Sakamoto
Advertiser Staff Writer

The University of Hawai'i is in a close Western Athletic Conference softball race this year, so every game is crucial.

Last night, the Wahine missed out on a chance to take over sole possession of first place by splitting with Portland State at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

Hawai'i moved to 35-16 overall and 6-4 in the WAC. The Wahine are a half-game behind first-place Fresno State (6-3).

In the first game, Morgan Seibert pitched a two-hitter and Marissa Smith drove in the game winner in the seventh as Portland State defeated Hawai'i, 2-1.

The Wahine routed Portland State in the second game, 9-1, behind a two-hitter by Desiree Duran. The game was shortened to six innings because of the eight-run mercy rule.

In the second game, the Wahine scored eight runs on five hits and two errors in the third inning. The Vikings also failed to throw out two runners at the plate on infield grounders, and let another runner get away with a botched rundown.

"That inning they scored eight runs, they shouldn't have had any," Portland State coach Teri Mariani said. "I was disappointed with the way we played defense that inning. You can't give a good team like Hawai'i five, six outs an inning."

April Crowell had a two-run single and Kristin Anderson hit a two-run double in the inning.

"It was a nice way to come back," Hawai'i coach Bob Coolen said. "Desiree pitched well; we've been giving her the run support."

The game ended when Stacey Porter lined a hit to center field which scored Natalie Gonzales for the Wahine's ninth run.

In the first game, Hawai'i starter Felicity Witt was victimized by two errors which led to both runs being unearned.

The Vikings scored in the first inning on a fielding error by third baseman Trisha Ramos, a double by Kiauna Applegate and a single by Smith.

Hawai'i tied the game in the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Ramos which scored Porter.

In the seventh, Seibert reached first after first baseman Porter dropped a throw by Witt.

Later in the inning, Kiauna Anderson doubled and scored on a two-out single to left by Smith.

"We made two errors and they scored two unearned runs and that's the ball game," Coolen said.

Witt, who lost her fifth consecutive start, pitched a six-hitter with three walks and five strikeouts.

After the game, Coolen decided to move Duran, the WAC pitcher of the week, up to No. 1 starter and drop Witt to No. 2.

"We've stayed with Felicity enough and we're 0-5 in that first game," Coolen said. "They (opponents) bring their A-plus game and we can't overcome that.

"I can't give up on Felicity, but I have to alter some things."

Portland State moved to 18-22 and 4-3.