UH softball team sweeps Fresno State
Advertiser Staff
The University of Hawai'i softball team pounded 14 hits to defeat Fresno State, 7-1, and sweep a softball doubleheader at Bulldog Diamond in Fresno, Calif., yesterday.
Melissa Coogan pitched a four-hit shutout and Hawai'i scored an unearned run on an appealed play in top of the eighth inning to defeat Fresno State, 1-0, in the first game.
It was the Western Athletic Conference opener for both teams. Hawai'i is 21-14, Fresno State is 18-17.
The Rainbow Wahine got their first doubleheader sweep are 4-23 overall in games at Fresno.
In the second game, Stacy Porter hit a two-run homer in a three-run first inning. Denise Dahlberg hit a solo shot in the seventh.
Porter's 29th home run set a UH career record. The previous record of 28 was held by Dana Degen.
In the first game, Hawai'i scored the go-ahead run when coach Bob Coolen appealed a call at home plate.
Tracie Uchima led off the eighth with a single to left. After Dahlberg fouled out to the catcher, Uchima went to second when April Crowell reached on an error by the second baseman. Porter then hit a deep fly out to centerfielder Mitzi Ing. The runners tagged and Coolen waved Uchima home. Ing, an Iolani graduate, relayed the ball to shortstop Christina Clark, who threw it to catcher Pam West. West tagged Uchima as the ball rolled up and out of her hand.
Coolen said the home plate umpire called Uchima out. But he appealed saying West didn't have possession of the ball. The umpiring crew then ruled Uchima scored. Kate Judd struck out to end the inning.
The two teams play play another doubleheader starting at 8 a.m. Hawai'i time today.
Game One
Hawai'i 000 000 01—1 5 2
Fresno State 000 000 00—0 4 4
Melissa Coogan and Denise Dahlberg. Jamie Southern and Pam West. W—Coogan. L—Southern. Leading Hitters: FSU—Southern double; Mitzi Ing 2-3.
Game Two
Hawai'i 300 030 1—7 14 1
Fresno State 000 100 0—1 6 3
Paula Blanning and Denise Dahlberg. Leslie Poole, Laura Ferreira (1), Amanda Wolf (6) and Pam West. W—Blanning. L—Poole. Leading Hitters: UH—Tracie Uchima 2-5, double; Dahlberg homer; April Crowell 2-5; Stacey Porter 2-4, homer, 2 RBIs; Trisha Ramos 2-4, double; Marie Jackson 2-4, triple.
