Wahine beat odds to win softball tournament title

By Star-Bulletin Staff

After a disappointing Saturday that saw the University of Hawaii women's softball team lose two games, the Wahine were left with one option if they wanted to keep the Wahine Softball Invitational trophy at home.

They had to go out and win three games yesterday.

They did just that, starting with a 9-0 victory over Bowling Green behind the two-hit pitching of Kelly Gentle.

Heather Williams, Kara Gustine, Julie Luft and Kehau Cofran all had two hits and Luft contributed three RBIs.

That first victory advanced UH into the semifinal round against Stanford, the top-seeded team following the completion of pool play.

The Wahine beat the Cardinal, 1-0, thanks to Luft, who knocked in designated hitter Tia Morenz in the third inning.

Stephanie Wiese scattered eight hits for her sixth victory of the season to advance UH into the final. In the other semifinal game, Tokyo Women's College blasted New Mexico State, 9-4.

Gentle came back to win her 12th game of the season in the championship showdown as UH pounded out 13 hits in a 6-2 victory over the Japan team.

Williams and Joelynn Naki had three hits apiece while Luft continued her timely hitting with a single and triple and two RBIs.

  • First game 
    Hawaii         120 033-9 11 0
Bowling Green  000 000-0  2 4
    Kelly Gentle and Tia Morenz; Jennifer Wolf, Jenny Kulics (5) and Missy Phillips. W-Gentle (11-4). L-Wolf (0-4). Leading hitters-Hawaii: Heather Williams, 2-3, 2b; Kara Gustine, 2-3; Julie Luft, 2-4, 3 RBIs; Kehau Cofran, 2-4, 3b.

  • Second game 
    Stanford  000 000 0-0 10 0
Hawaii    001 000 x-1  6 1
    Becky Blevins and Lynn Anderson; Stephanie Wiese and Aiko Okamura. W-Wiese (6-4). L-Blevins (8-5). Leading hitters-Hawaii: Williams, 2-2; Wiese, 2b.

  • Championship game 
    Hawaii                012 010 2-6 13 1
Tokyo Women's College 001 100 0-2  8 0
    Gentle and Okamura; Emi Kaneko, Kaori Ota (3), Ayako Iwabuchi (3) and Eriko Nasu. W-Gentle (12-4). L-Kaneko (3-1). Leading hitters-Hawaii: Williams, 3-3; Joelynn Naki, 3-4, 2b, 2 RBIs; Luft, 2-3, 3b, 2 RBIs; Okamura, 2-3; Cofran, 3b.

  • All-Tournament team
    Most Valuable Player: Tia Morenz, Hawaii. Pitcher: Becky Blevins, Stanford. Catcher: Kiyoe Yamazaki, Tokyo. Infield: Jenny Royle, Stanford; Jessica Brown, Tennessee-Chattanooga; Kiyoe Tanaka, Tokyo;; Kehau Confan, Hawaii. Outfield: Abbie Sodaro, New Mexico State; Jenny Ranz, Bowling Green; Makiko Kuroda, Tokyo. Designated Player: Kara Gustine, Hawaii.



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