Wahine rally past MSU in NCAA opener

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This is the kind of game the Hawaii softball team has lost repeatedly this season.

Hawaii    MSU 9 7 NEXT UP vs. Arizona State, today

Down by one after frittering away a two-run advantage in the sixth, this time the Rainbow Wahine rallied with three runs in the seventh to beat Mississippi State 9-7 in the first game of the Tempe Regional on the Arizona State campus.

The host Sun Devils won their opener as well, shutting out Stony Brook 2-0. Hawaii will play ASU today at 11 a.m. Hawaii time. Win, and the Rainbow Wahine advance to the championship tomorrow. Lose, and they have to win another game later today to stay alive in the double-elimination event.

"For the most part, we have lost close games," UH softball head coach Bob Coolen said. "But the players know what was at stake and responded."

Hawaii has scored more runs in only two other games this season. In the dry desert air, the Rainbow Wahine hit three home runs, including a solo shot by Kate Robinson to open the seventh to tie the score at 7-7. It was her school-record 20th home run this season.

Taking the senior's cue, Richie-Anne Titcomb and Audrey Andrade added run-scoring singles to seal the deal. In the Mississippi State seventh, Kaulana Gould closed matters with a running, over-the-shoulder catch in center for the final out as the Wahine took game one of the tournament.

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TEMPE, Ariz. » It's been a considerable time coming, but the wait was worth every distressing moment for Hawaii softball coach Bob Coolen.

At the most opportune time, his Rainbow Wahine (39-19) started banging the ball with authority last night in the desert. They came from behind and defeated Mississippi State 9-7 on the Arizona State campus in the Tempe Regional of the NCAA softball tournament. Hawaii plays ASU today at 11 a.m. Hawaii time. The Sun Devils advanced with a 2-0 win over Stony Brook.

"We've been waiting for those bats to come around all year," Coolen said afterward. "No, we have not rallied like this and come from behind. For the most part, we have lost close games, but the players know what was at stake and responded."

The run production tied for the third highest of the season, as the Rainbows hit three home runs to aid in the win. Only nine runs against Kentucky in the opener, a 12-4 win over San Jose State and 10 runs in a 13-10 loss to Nevada represented equal or greater run production.

"We were really relaxed and that helped us stay focused," said center fielder Kaulana Gould, who knocked in three with a key two-run double and a single. "We knew we had a good hitting team and now it's time for us to peak."

Down 4-1 early on, Hawaii picked up four in the fourth and one in the sixth to manufacture a 6-4 lead. The Bulldogs (40-21) rallied for three in their half of the sixth to take a 7-6 advantage, but that's when the Wahine broke out the lumber.

Starting pitcher Kate Robinson, knocked out in the sixth, led off the seventh with a rocket over the center-field fence to tie matters. It was her 20th ball over the wall and set a school record for most round-trippers in a season.

Run-producing singles from Richie-Anne Titcomb and Audrey Andrade followed to give Hawaii a 9-7 advantage. In the Mississippi State seventh, the Bulldogs had two on with two outs before Gould closed matters with a running, over-the-shoulder catch in center field for the final out as the Rainbows took Game 1 of the tournament.

"We want to get to Oklahoma City (site of the Women's College World Series), and want it so bad," said Titcomb, who helped propel the Rainbows early with a second-inning homer. "We were really pumped up, and it showed."

Robinson suffered through an agonizing afternoon under a pristine Arizona sun and temps in the mid-90s. She surrendered 13 hits and seven runs (six earned) and later talked about the caliber of competition in the tournament.

"We knew (the Bulldogs) could hit, but when they got on, they seem to take an extra base," she said. "Both teams can hit, and each team executed."

If Robinson faltered on the mound, she also had an opportunity for redemption. That seventh-inning home run helped make up for leaving three runners on base her first two trips to the plate.

"If you give up runs, you need to find a way to contribute," said the senior from Honolulu. "I hate to leave runners stranded and after the home run, everybody started hitting."

While the Rainbows accumulated those nine runs and banged out 13 hits, Coolen was the first to acknowledge the physical environment as a principal factor for the production.

"At home, we face 30 mph tradewinds blowing right in the hitter's face," he said. "Not many balls leave our place, but this place is ideal. The dry, desert air is perfect for hitters and the ball flew out of here."

The Western Athletic Conference opened strong yesterday, going 4-0. Besides Hawaii, Louisiana Tech edged Auburn 1-0, Nevada beat Purdue 4-1 and Fresno State topped Sacramento State 11-0.