Coogan's shutout helps UH split two in Paradise Classic

Advertiser Staff

Melissa Coogan pitched a two-hitter and Natalie Gonzales had three hits and drove in two runs to lead the University of Hawai'i to a 6-0 victory over Texas-Arlington yesterday in the Chevron Paradise Classic at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

The Rainbow Wahine, however, couldn't sustain the momentum, falling to Long Beach State, 3-1, in a later game.

Coogan walked three and struck out six in the seven-inning complete game to improve to 3-1.

Denise Dahlberg had two hits and an RBI as the Rainbow Wahine got nine hits off Mavericks starting pitcher Katy Cox (3-6).

Leading 2-0, UH scored four runs on five hits in the bottom of the sixth. Marie Jackson, Dahlberg and Gonzales hit run-scoring singles to spark the surge.

Stacey Porter led off the bottom of the second with a homer to put UH ahead 1-0.

Long Beach State's Meredith Cervenka (8-1) allowed a run on four hits in beating Hawai'i.

Carrie Hamilton's RBI single gave the 49ers a 1-0 lead in the top of the second, and Jessica Smith made it 2-0 with a run-scoring single in the third.

Hawai'i closed to 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth when Gonzales scored an unearned run on a throwing error.

Arleigh Thorp's two-out solo homer in the fifth off Shannon Tabion (1-2) made it 3-1.

Long Beach State improved to 13-4, while Hawai'i fell to 9-5.

LONG BEACH STATE 011 010 0 — 3 7 1
HAWAI'I 000 100 0 — 1 4 2

Meredith Cervenka and Carrie Hamilton. Shannon Tabion, Paula Blanning (6) and Jennifer Tandarich. WP—Cervenka (8-1). LP—Tabion (1-2).

Leading hitters: LBS—Arleigh 2-4, solo homer. UH—Natalie Gonzales 1-3, RBI.

TEXAS-ARLINGTON 000 000 0—0 2 1
HAWAI'I 010 014 x—6 9 0

Katy Cox and Monica Koeth. Melissa Coogan and Denise Dahlberg. WP—Coogan (3-1). LP—Cox (3-6).

Leading hitters: UH—Natalie Gonzales 3-4, double, 2 RBIs; Denise Dahlberg 2-3, RBI; Stacey Porter solo homer.

• Texas-Arlington 3, Mercer 1: Monica Koeth capped a three-run top of the seventh with an RBI single as the Mavericks (7-9) beat the Bears (4-11).

Mindy Molinar broke a 0-0 tie, scoring on an error, and Stephanie Owens made it 2-0 when she stole home.

• Long Beach State 2, Mercer 1: Jessica Smith scored on an error in the top of the fourth to break a 1-all tie and lift the 49ers (12-4) over the Bears (4-10).

Lindsey Knoff allowed a run on three hits in pitching the seven inning distance for the victory.