Majam ties, UH breaks home run marks

Freshman Kelly Majam tied Hawaii's single-season home run record and the 25th-ranked Rainbow Wahine shattered the team mark for homers in a season yesterday in a Western Athletic Conference softball doubleheader sweep of host Utah State. The Wahine won 12-4 in six innings and 18-8.

Majam hit her 21st home run in the fifth inning of the opener in Logan, Utah, tying former All-American Kate Robinson's record set in 2008. Jenna Rodriguez added two homers and Jessica Iwata's sixth-inning grand slam tied the program's record of 84.

The Wahine didn't take much time to break it, coming up with five more home runs in the second game at Johnson Field. Iwata, Rodriguez, Melissa Gonzalez, Alexandra Aguirre and Makani Duhaylonsod all homered, with Duhaylonsod's three-run round-tripper capping Hawaii's eight-run seventh.

The Wahine (30-11, 8-0) have had at least four home runs in a game 10 times this season, including five in a row. The Aggies dropped to 14-17 and 3-4.

Sophomore pitcher Stephanie Ricketts (15-6, 6-0 WAC) picked up the win in both games.

Hawaii-Hilo restores 2 scholarship teams

Community fundraising has restored scholarship status to the women's golf and men's tennis programs at Hawaii-Hilo beginning this fall, according to Vulcans athletic director Dexter Irvin.

Budget cuts had reduced scholarship and operational funding for both programs at the end of the 2008-09 season. Support came from a number of entities, including Hui Kako'o Kenika, whose mission is to promote Big Island tennis.

HPU stays No. 1 in regional poll

Hawaii Pacific remained the top team in the NCAA West Regional softball rankings announced yesterday.

The Sea Warriors are 26-3 in both Division II and regional play. Hawaii-Hilo (22-11 in both) is sixth.

The top eight teams in each region are selected to the NCAA Division II national championship tournament in May. The Pacific West Conference has four of the top-10 spots in the regional rankings, which could lead to multiple postseason berths as happened last season when HPU and Dixie State advanced to the NCAA tournament.