Yoshikawa’s homer lifts Hawaii past Missouri 3-2 in Women’s College World Series debut

Homer lifts Hawaii past Missouri 3-2

OKLAHOMA CITY — Traci Yoshikawa hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning and Alexandra Aguirre also homered as Hawaii beat Missouri 3-2 in the opening game of the Women’s College World Series.

With the nation’s top home run hitter waiting on deck, Yoshikawa drove the first pitch from Kristin Nottelmann (24-8) over the right field wall Thursday to give the 16th-seeded Rainbow Wahine (50-14) the lead. Aguirre hit a solo shot in the first inning as Hawaii extended its NCAA record to 156 home runs this season.

Stephanie Ricketts (30-8) threw a six-hitter as the Rainbow Wahine won in its World Series debut.

Rhea Taylor homered and scored twice for ninth-seeded Missouri (51-12), which made back-to-back World Series appearances for the first time in school history.