FULLERTON, Calif. – University of Hawai'i's Kaia Parnabay tossed two complete games and Hawai'i's offense exploded for 22 runs to on the day to take the first two contests of a three-game series against Cal State Fullerton at Anderson Family Field Saturday night.
Hawai'i improves to 33-7 overall and 11-0 in the Big West, while the Titans fall to 16-25 overall and 3-8 in the Big West.
Game One: Hawai'i 14, Cal State Fullerton 2
After scoring three runs in the first three innings, the University of Hawai'i exploded for 11 runs over the final two innings earning a 14-2 victory over Cal State Fullerton.
Hawai'i got off to a quick start taking a 2-0 lead after a two-run home run to center field by Keiki Carlos scoring Kelly Majam. The Titans would answer in the bottom of the first inning scoring off an illegal pitch from Parnaby allowing Ariel Tsuchiyama to score from third. Cal State Fullerton tied up the game in the second inning after Leesa Harris hit an RBI single to the shortstop scoring pinch runner Jena Rubio. Later in the inning the Titans would get their third run across after a sacrifice fly to right by Tsuchiyama, however Tiffany Sheffler left early from third giving the Titans their third out of the inning.
The Rainbow Wahine would retake the lead 3-2 in the third with RBI single to center by Leisha Li'illi'i. Hawai'i would then score four runs in the top of the fourth after a two-run double to the right center gap by catcher Kayla Wartner, an RBI single to center by Kiani Carlos, and a sacrifice fly to center by shortstop Jessica Iwata.
Leading 7-2 in the top of the fifth Hawai'i would tack on seven more runs in the fifth inning after five hits and two Titan errors.
Kaia Parnaby (29-3) tossed a complete game giving up two runs, one earned, off four hits issuing one walk while striking out two. The senior left-hander found herself in trouble with illegal pitches recording five in the win.
Jasmine Antunez drew the start for Cal State Fullerton throwing two innings giving up two runs off one hit. The Garden Grove, Calif. native struck out three of the nine batters she faced. Desiree Ybarra (5-11) relieved Antunez in the third inning also tossing two innings, but gave up five runs off six hits in the loss. Katey Laban would come in for the fifth inning giving up seven runs, two earned.
Tsuchiyama and Sheffler added hits for the Titans. The Rainbow Wahine collected 12 hits with five different players with two apiece. Wartner added three RBI's and designated player Sharla Kleibenstein added two RBI's.
Game Two: Hawai'i 8, Cal State Fullerton 4
The Rainbow Wahine would continue their offensive into the second game scoring in the top of the first inning after a fielding error by catcher Ariel Tsuchiyama allowed Kayla Wartner to score from third.
The Titans would answer in the bottom of the first with a three-run home run to right field by third baseman Eliza Crawford, her sixth of the season. Hawai'i would get one run back in the second after back-to-back doubles by Kelly Majam and Kayla Wartner.
For the first time in the two games both teams would go scoreless in the same inning after not recording a run in the third inning. Hawai'i would take the lead for good later in the inning after a Sharla Kleibenstein home run to left field and a Kayla Wartner two-run home run to left field giving her third RBI of the game and the Rainbow Wahine a 5-3 lead. Hawaii would grab three more insurance runs in the top of the sixth after a two-run double to left by Jessica Iwata scored Majam and Warnter.
In the bottom half of the sixth, freshman Melissa Sechrest hit a home run to center field, her sixth of the season cutting the Hawai'i lead down to 8-4, however the Titans would be unsuccessful to make a comeback as Rainbow Wahine would be able to hold on for the win.
Kaia Parnaby (30-3) tossed her second complete game of the day giving up four runs off six hits, while issuing just one walk and striking out one. Jasmine Antunez (10-13) also started game two this time recording the loss after throwing 5 1/3 innings giving up eight runs, five earned, off 10 hits. The freshman right hander would strike out four Hawai'i batters in the game. Desiree Ybarra tossed the final 1 2/3 innings giving up no runs and no hits.
Ashley Carter and Carissa Turang added a hit for the Titans and Hawai'i got hits from seven different batters to remain in first place of the Big West.
The Titans and Rainbow Wahine will play the final game of the series tomorrow at 12 p.m. at Anderson Family Field. Cal State Fullerton would like to welcome fans to come out and support breast cancer as the Titans host their fifth annual pink day.