Rainbow Wahine try to regroup at home

Advertiser Staff

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Hawai' Invitational Softball Tournament WHEN: Today through Sunday. WHERE: Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. WHO: Hawai'i, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Pacific, Tokyo Women's College. TICKETS: No admission charge. PARKING: $3. TV: K5 will televise tonight's UH-Pacific game live. RADIO: None. SCHEDULE: Today Ohio State vs. Tokyo, 2 p.m. Wisconsin vs. Tokyo, 4 p.m. Hawai'i vs. Pacific, 6 p.m. Tomorrow Ohio State vs. Wisconsin, 1 p.m. Ohio State vs. Pacific, 3 p.m. Hawai'i vs. Tokyo, 5 p.m. Hawai'i vs. Wisconsin, 7 p.m. Saturday Pacific vs. Tokyo, 9 a.m. Pacific vs. Wisconsin, 11 a.m. Hawai'i vs. Ohio State, 1 p.m. Game 1: TBA, 3 p.m. Sunday Games 2-6 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Joining the Rainbows (15-10) are No. 16 Ohio State (14-6), Wisconsin (9-9), Pacific (15-11) and Tokyo Women's College. Nittaidai, also of Japan, withdrew from the tournament because of the threat of war in the Middle East. Games against Tokyo are considered exhibitions and do not count against the U.S. teams' records.

After a round robin, the teams are seeded by record to complete the tournament.

Hawai'i is coming off a 1-3 performance at the abbreviated Kia Klassic at Cal State Fullerton. Rain canceled the final two days of the tournament. The Rainbows beat No. 4 Texas, 5-3, and lost to Fresno State, No. 5 Washington and the host No. 9 Titans. The Rainbows had won 11 of their previous 13 before the Kia Klassic, including winning their own Malihini Tournament.

UH is led by right-hander Melissa Coogan (12-4, 1.41 ERA), designated player April Crowell (.295, 6 HRs, 19 RBIs) and first baseman Stacey Porter (.448, 5 HRs, 12 RBIs).

Ohio State is led by right-hander Katie Chain, who notched her 600th career strikeout in helping the Buckeyes win their invitational last weekend. Hawai'i meets Ohio State at 1 p.m. Saturday.