In pitching a no-hitter in the University of Hawai'i's abbreviated 8-0 victory over Boise State, Stephanie Ricketts stunned one person: herself.

"After the game, I ran up to her and said, 'You pitched a no-hitter,' " catcher Stacey Yamada said of the game that was shortened to 4 1/2 innings because of the mercy rule. She was like, 'No, I didn't. I thought somebody got a hit.' I told her, 'No, it was a no-hitter.' It was so exciting."

Ricketts said: "I didn't even know that was happening. I guess I was looking at all of the runs we were scoring."

The Rainbow Wahine amassed 12 hits, including nine hits and seven runs — six earned — against starter Mandy Klein.

Third baseman Clare Warwick, first baseman Amanda Tauali'i, left fielder Audrey Andrade, center fielder Kanani Pu'u-Warren and second baseman Dara Pagaduan each had two hits.

What's more, the Rainbows played acrobatic defense.

With a runner on first in the second inning, Boise State's Kelly Sweeney hit a liner to center. Pu'u-Warren fielded it on the hop, then threw to second to force out Christin Capobianco.

The drive "was a little hard to read," Pu'u-Warren said. "The sun was going down, and the (Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium) lights were on. It looked like she hit it well off the bat. I thought it was going deep, then it just died. I had to change my angle.

"I heard people yelling, 'Two!' " Pu'u-Warren added. "I tried to throw it on the run. Luckily, we got her."

In the top of the fifth — and final — inning, Ricketts benefitted from two dazzling defensive plays. On the first, third baseman Warwick made a leaping catch of Ashi Viers-Gordillo's line drive.

"Just reaction," Warwick said. "I can't think too much about those. I could have let it go to Julie (Franklin, the shortstop), but once you commit, you can't stop. It was all reaction."

With two outs, Laurel Wyatt hit a hard grounder to the right of second base. Pagaduan made a back-handed stop, then threw to first to ensure the second no-hitter of Ricketts' freshman season. "It kind of skipped up on me," Pagaduan said. "I guess practice makes perfect. You do what you practice: relax and play the ball."

It was a gritty play for Pagaduan, who has a sprained right pinkie and a sore right wrist that requires daily ice treatments.

"They played great defense," Ricketts said. "They made it fun."

Ricketts pitched sparingly in practices this past week. It is a double-edged strategy. The advantage is it keeps her right arm fresh.

The downside? "She needed to get a little looser; to get into a rhythm more," Coolen said. "Taking the week off has its benefits in resting, but you also start aiming the ball because you're not loose."

Still, Ricketts was able to mesmerize the Broncos with a biting screwball, a dropball and a go-chase curveball.

"They weren't ready for her screwballs," said Yamada, who called the game. "We mixed in the dropballs. And when they got behind (in the count), we'd go with the curve. That's what they were swinging at."

All four of Ricketts' strikeouts were on curves.

"Stacey was calling a good game," Ricketts said.

The Rainbows, meanwhile, were prepared for their first meeting against left-handed Klein. This is the Broncos' inaugural season.

This past week, Coolen, who is left-handed, pitched batting practice. Coolen, throwing from 8 feet in front of the rubber, went with an eclectic menu of pitches.

"He likes to throw all of his crazy, lefty junk," Pu'u-Warren said. "We like it. He gives us so many different looks."

The Rainbows pelted Coolen's batting-practice pitches.

"I didn't realize Boise State had a lefty starter," Pu'u-Warren said. "When I saw her, I said to myself, 'It's a female Bob.'"

Coolen said: "They saw a lefty all week. When Boise State started a lefty, they knew where it was coming from instantaneously. It worked out."

Today's doubleheader between the teams marks the final home games for the Rainbows this season.

Coolen said he has a plan to use the eight seniors.

What's more, the doubleheader has been dubbed "Power in Pink." The Rainbows will wear specially made pink uniforms today to bring awareness to breast cancer.

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