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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 6:02 p.m., Saturday, April 4, 2009

Ricketts wins twice in UH softball marathon sweep over Fresno State

Advertiser Staff

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Stephanie Ricketts

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Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Kanani Pu‘u-Warren

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Hawai'i freshman Stephanie Ricketts pitched 19 2/3 innings today — including 12 1/3 in a 16-inning first game — to lift Hawai'i to a Western Athletic Conference softball doubleheader sweep over No. 22 Fresno State today at Fresno, Calif.

In the first game, Kanani Pu'u-Warren hit a three-run home run in the top of the 16th inning to lead Hawai'i to a 7-4 victory in the longest softball game in UH history. UH won the second game, 2-1, to take the series 2 games to 1.

The Rainbow Wahine improved to 17-20 overall and 5-4 in the Western Athletic Conference. Fresno State is 23-15 and 6-3. UH's longest game previously was a 2-1 loss to Cal State Fullerton in 14 innings in 1992.

Ricketts, who replaced starter Courtney Baughman in the fourth inning, struck out three and walked two in 12 1/3 innings in the first game.

In the top of the 16th and the game tied at 4 with one out, UH's Makani Duhaylonsod-Kaleimamahu singled to right-center field and Amanda Tauali'i singled to right. After Traci Yoshikawa popped up to second for the second out, Pu'u-Warren hit her home run over centerfield fence to lift UH to a 7-4 lead.

In the bottom of the 16th, Fresno State had runners on first and third before Ricketts got Haley Perkins to ground out to end the game.

Tauali'i went 3 for 7 for the Rainbow Wahine, while Duhaylonsod-Kaleimamahu and Pu'u-Warren had two hits.

In the second game, Ricketts struck out four and walked none for a complete-game victory.

The Rainbows took a 2-0 lead with runs in the first two innings. Pu'u-Warren drove in Tanisha Milca with a single in the first inning and Stacey Yamada drove in Dara Pagaduan with a single in the second inning.

Alexis Lujan homered to left field in the sixth inning for Fresno State.