LIHU‘E — University of Hawai‘i Rainbow Wahine softball player, Jessica Iwata, made her first start for the USA Futures softball team in an exhibition loss to the USA National Team, 7-0, Wednesday night at Thurmon Munson Memorial Stadium. Iwata started
LIHU‘E — University of Hawai‘i Rainbow Wahine softball player, Jessica Iwata, made her first start for the USA Futures softball team in an exhibition loss to the USA National Team, 7-0, Wednesday night at Thurmon Munson Memorial Stadium.
Iwata started the second game of the day at shortstop and moved to third base in the fourth inning.
She went 1 for 1 with a leadoff single in the second inning and a sacrifice bunt in the fourth. The Futures team was held to just three hits in the game — one off of National team pitcher, Cat Osterman and two off of Eileen Canney.
Iwata, who just completed her freshman season at UH after graduating from Kaua‘i High School last spring, was the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year in her inaugural campaign, also helping her team reach the College World Series for the first time in program history.
In Wednesday’s first game, the two teams were held scoreless through the first four innings. Team USA then erupted for four runs in the fifth inning and eventually won the game, 5-0, behind a five-hit combined shutout for Monica Abbott and Jennie Finch.
The two teams squared off in another doubleheader on Thursday at Brookside Park in Ashland, Ohio. Results from those contests were unavailable as of press time.
The Futures team will also play in the 2010 World Cup of Softball in Oklahoma City, Okla. in July.
