Rainbow Wahine sweep Tulsa in WAC softball

By Ann Miller
Advertiser Staff Writer

Melissa Coogan pitched Hawai'i to a Western Athletic Conference doubleheader sweep of Tulsa last night at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

Tulsa (29-20, 4-4 WAC), which came here tied for second, fell three games behind the 'Bows (27-16, 8-2) going into tomorrow's doubleheader.

The opener ended after five innings because of the league's "mercy rule." Hawai'i took full advantage of 14 hits, four TU errors and many more 'Cane miscues.

The second game went overtime. The 'Bows won it in the 10th when Stacey Porter scored on a wild pitch. Porter led off with a double to the right-center wall — the fifth hit of the night for the WAC's leading batter. Kate Judd's sixth hit sent Porter to third. She scored when Maren Genow's high pitch to Trisha Ramos glanced off the catcher's glove.

Genow (13-5) gave up 13 hits and struck out eight. Melissa Coogan (21-9) pitched both games for Hawai'i and was brilliant with the exception of Brandi McGuire's two-out, two-run homer that tied the game at 3 in the top of the seventh. Moments earlier, UH catcher Denise Dahlberg picked Crissy Strimple off third.

The pitch to McGuire might have been Coogan's only bad throw. She blamed herself for ignoring her intuition to shake off Dahlberg's sign.

"I knew right before I threw it that I didn't want to," Coogan recalled. "It was a 'drop inside' and my drop had been working the whole game. Right when Denise called it I didn't want to throw it but I didn't shake her off and I threw it right down the middle."

Hawai'i's Justina Kahaku was thrown out at home in the bottom of the seventh when she tried to score from first on a throwing error. Kahaku brushed into the third baseman as she made the turn. Umpires ruled it incidental contact and the play at home was not close.

Hawai'i second baseman Ashley Ruff tagged out Tulsa's Crissy Strimple at second base, then threw to first base to complete a first-inning double play in the first game of last night's doubleheader. Eugene Tanner • The Honolulu Advertiser

Three straight singles gave Tulsa its first run of the night, in the fourth inning of Game 2. That lead lasted for as long as it took for April Crowell to hit her 10th homer of the season — not long. Crowell led off the bottom of the fourth by launching the ball over the scoreboard in right. Hawai'i followed with three consecutive singles — the last two bunts. Ashley Ruff's looper between three fielders in short right scored Judd and Trisha Ramos to put the 'Bows up 3-1.

The combination of Coogan's fresh arm — she didn't throw all week until Wednesday — and a Hawai'i defense that was as imposing as its offense was the difference last night. The Rainbows did not have an error and made 10 exceptional plays behind Coogan — eight in the second game.

"When my defense is doing well behind me it keeps me relaxed because I know that if they hit the ball somebody will be there," Coogan said. "And I know if I give up a few runs my offense is going to be there to pick me up. Also, when my pitches are working like they were tonight and I'm on I just feel a lot more comfortable."

Tulsa stranded two in the top of the first inning of the first game. The Rainbow Wahine, who have won their last six, rarely made the same mistake — with help from the Golden Hurricane.

Tulsa replaced its entire outfield in the fourth after nearly every ball that got through, including a few that should not have, were mis-played. Despite that and four errors, UH hit the ball hard enough to earn all six runs with Crowell and Jackson each collecting three hits and Judd getting three RBIs. Dahlberg was the only Rainbow Wahine without a hit.

Coogan pitched a three-hit shutout, with five strikeouts and three walks, to become the first WAC pitcher with 20 wins. She was thankful later for the short game.

"I think I could have kept going (in the second game)," she said. "I was definitely slowing but I was still moving the ball around and if I'd had to go a few more innings I probably could have. But probably not much more."

SHORT HOPS: Hawai'i's Tracie Uchima extended her hitting streak to 10 games in the opener but went hitless in Game 2. ... Tulsa has eight starters back from last year's 48-16 team, which broke 62 school records. The 'Canes had the second-best turnaround in NCAA history, coming off a 13-42 season. ... UH senior Kate Judd made her 190th and 191st consecutive starts last night. ... Melissa Coogan has pitched in 25 of the Rainbows' last 30 games. ... Hawai'i's final home games are next Thursday and Saturday against San Jose State.

First Game

Tulsa 000 00—0 3 4
Hawai'i 204 02—8 14 0

Ami Day, Lindsey Dyer (3) and LeeAnne Pepper. Melissa Coogan and Denise Dahlberg. W—Coogan. L—Day. Leading hitters: UT—Stacey Walkingstick 2-2, double. UH—April Crowell 3-4; Stacey Porter 2-3, double, 2 runs; Kate Judd 2-3, 3 RBIs; Marie Jackson 3-3, 2 RBIs.

Second Game

Tulsa 000 100 200 0—3 9 2
Hawai'i 000 300 000 1—4 13 0

Maren Genow and Stephanie Sliepen. Melissa Coogan and Denise Dahlberg. W—Coogan. L—Genow. Leading Hitters: UT—Sliepen 2-4; Katie Torres 3-4; Brandi McGuire homer. UH—Dahlberg 2-5; Stacey Porter 3-3, double; Kate Judd 4-5; Ashley Ruff 2 runs; April Crowell homer.