Timely hits and a clutch throw helped the University of Hawaii softball team complete a series sweep of New Mexico State on Saturday.

After winning by the mercy rule on Friday, the Rainbow Wahine survived a dramatic battle in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader and closed out a 4-3 victory when UH left fielder Alex Aguirre threw an NMSU runner out at the plate to end the game.

The No. 16/18 Wahine then hit three home runs in the series finale, and pitcher Stephanie Ricketts held off the Aggies in a 4-1 win that moved UH (29-3, 5-1) into first place in the Western Athletic Conference.

NMSU, the defending WAC champion, fell to 18-19 and 0-6 in league play.

“When we came out here I knew (NMSU) would be eager to get a win after being swept at BYU last week,” UH head coach Bob Coolen said in a phone interview. “So it was huge for us to get a sweep.

“I knew that first game was going to be tough. We manufactured some runs, we got a couple of home runs and we were able to take care of business.”

Ricketts (18-2) earned two wins and picked up the second save of her career during UH’s stay in Las Cruces, N.M.

The senior was called in for UH’s first relief appearance of the season and got the final two outs in the seventh inning of the first game to close out the win for starter Kaia Parnaby (11-1).

Ricketts then struck out six while giving up four hits and three walks in a complete-game win to close the series.

In Saturday’s first game, UH and NMSU took turns in the lead, with the Aggies scoring on a UH throwing error and a wild pitch to take a 3-2 lead in the fifth.

Aguirre then led off the top of the sixth by hitting a line drive to left field that Coolen saw tip off the left fielder’s glove, hit the top of the fence and fall over for a game-tying home run.

Dara Pagaduan was then hit by a pitch, advanced on Jocelyn Enrique’s flyout and moved to third on a single by Brynne Buchanan. Kelly Majam followed with a single to center to score the go-ahead run.

NMSU put the potential tying and winning runs on base with one out in the bottom of the seventh. Coolen summoned Ricketts from the bullpen and after a flyout, Kapolei graduate Briana Tovio-Asato singled to left. Aguirre then fired to catcher Kayla Wartner ahead of NMSU’s Shaleese Javillo, who was trying to score from second.

“Alex launched a perfect one-hop throw to Kayla,” Coolen said. “It was a great way to end a game.”

The Wahine took command in the second game when Wartner and fellow freshman Leisha Li‘ili‘i hit solo home runs in the top of the third. Senior Sarah Robinson added a two-run shot in the fifth to give UH a 4-0 cushion.

NMSU broke through with a sixth-inning home run by Valerie Swedberg, and the Aggies brought the tying run to the plate with two out. But Ricketts got out of the jam with a ground out and retired NMSU in order in the seventh.

The Wahine head to Utah today for the next leg of their road trip. UH faces Utah on Tuesday and Utah Valley State on Wednesday in nonconference games and closes the trip with a WAC series at BYU starting Friday.

At Las Cruces, N.M.

Kaia Parnaby, Stephanie Ricketts (7) and Kayla Wartner. Alex Newman and Brittany Clifton.
W—Parnaby. L—Newman. S—Ricketts.
Leading hitters—Hawaii: Kelly Majam, RBI; Leisha Li’li’i, 2B, 2 RBIs; Alex Aguirre, 2-4, HR; Brynne Buchanan, 2-3. NMSU: Tina Cisneros, 2-3; Malena Padilla, RBI.

Stephanie Ricketts and Kayla Wartner. Karysta Donisthorpe, Celisha Walker (5) and Alyssa Ruiz.
W—Ricketts. L—Donisthorpe.
Leading hitters—Hawaii: Wartner, HR; Sarah Robinson, 2-4, HR, 2 RBIs; Jessica Iwata, 2-3; Leisha Li‘ili‘i, HR. NMSU: Valerie Swedberg, 2-3, HR.