Feb. 21, 2015
Final Stats
UTEP 2, Hawaii 3 
2015 Softball Stats
HONOLULU, Hawaii - The UTEP softball team had a 2-1 lead during the bottom of the seventh inning, but a sac fly to center field and a batter hit by a pitch with bases loaded gave Hawaii a 3-2 victory on Friday night during the first day of the Bank of Hawaii Invitational at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
The Miners (2-9) took the early advantage during a two-run top of the first inning. But the Rainbow Wahine (8-4) rallied to stay unbeaten (9-0) all-time against their former Western Athletic Conference rival.
Kaitlin Fifield had another solid outing, allowing only four hits and only walking two batters. And though Hawaii didn't record a hit during the bottom of the seventh, the host team took advantage of Miner mistakes.
To open the bottom of the final frame, Rachel Lack reached first base on a fielding miscue by Kawehiokalani Netane, while Sarina Jaramillo reached first on a fielder's choice sac bunt. Netane fielded Jaramillo's bunt, looked to first then threw to second base in which Lack looked to be out, but was called safe. Ulu Matagiese was then hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs on the board.
Tayana Mata came to the plate with the bases juiced, but the first out was recorded when she reached on a fielder's choice in which Fifield fielded Mata's ball and threw out Lack at the dish. Drama ensued as Lindsey Willmon hit a sac-fly to center field. Ashley Eldridge made the catch, gunned the ball to Fifield at the cutoff position, and Fifield threw to the catcher Kaitlin Ryder. The home plate umpire called pinch runner Kiani Wong safe - on a close call - to tie the game. Kayla Wartner walked on four consecutive balls to load the bases once again with the two outs. Hawaii claimed victory when Keiki Carlos was hit by the pitch on a 1-1 count, plating Matagiese.
Tahla Wade commenced the contest by getting on first base on a throwing error by the third baseman, and then advanced to second base with her speed. With one out, Netane put the Miners on the board with an RBI single to left field, scoring Wade. Eldridge singled through the left side, while Kiki Pepi walked to load the bases. Taylor Sargent, who made her first collegiate start at right field, hit a sac-fly to center field, plating Natane. Ryder singled to the shortstop, but a runner's interference ended the inning with a 2-0 UTEP lead.
Hawaii tacked on its first run during the bottom half of the first when Heather Morales was hit by a pitch with bases loaded that scored Wartner.
Fifield allowed two hits during the first inning, but retired nine consecutive batters before Matagiese singled to start the bottom of the fifth inning. Carlos recorded the fourth Hawaii hit in the sixth.
UTEP turned its third double play of the season during the sixth inning. Morales hit a ball to Pepi with two outs, in which she started the 4-6-3 double play.
Fifield pitched 6.2 innings and recorded three strikeouts. Eldridge went 2-for-3, while Wade was 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored.
The Miners return to action when they take on no. 19 UCF at 2 p.m. MT (11 a.m. Hawaii Time), followed by a contest against no. 17 Washington at 4:30 p.m. MT/1:30 p.m. on day two of the invitational.
