Box Score: #22 Hawaii Pacific 3, Sonoma State 1

TURLOCK, Calif- Samantha Lipperd and Ciara Becerril combined to give up just three hits and Brittany Martinez had an RBI single in fifth, but Sonoma State couldn't overcome an early two-run deficit in falling 3-1 to Hawaii Pacific in the semifinal of the Gold Bracket at the Tournament of Champions, Presented by Mizuno, in Turlock.

With the loss, the Seawolves fall to 23-11 this season after going 4-2 in the three-day event at Pedretti Park. SSU is now 32-25 in the ten-year-old tournament. The Sea Warriors, ranked at No. 22 in last week's National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II Top 25 Poll, improved to 25-9 and will face Chico State in the title game on Sunday.

As it did all weekend, Lipperd was plagued by the enforcement of the illegal pitch on Sunday. Hawaii Pacific got their first run of the game when Breanne Patton reached base on four straight illegal pitches. Patton then advanced to second on another illegal pitch, took third on a sacrifice bunt, then scored on yet another illegal pitch to go up 1-0.

In the third, Kozy Toriano also reached base via the illegal pitch and two more advanced her to third. After a walk to put runners on first and third, Toriano scored on an error by Rochelle Vanyi after a throw down to Vanyi to keep the runner on first from advancing on a stolen base attempt. Despite leading 2-0, Hawaii Pacific had yet to get a base hit.

Down 2-0 going into the fifth, B. Martinez doubled to left center field scoring Vanyi, who led off the inning with a double, cutting the lead to 2-1.

It wasn't until the fifth when the Sea Warriors finally broke up the no-hitter and Patton gave HPU an insurance run with a RBI single to right field, scoring Toriano from second base.

Neither offense could get anything going after that as both Becerril and Patton retired the next 10 batters in order to finish the game and Sonoma State was eliminated from the tournament.

Vanyi, Martinez and Vanessa Currie accounted for the three Sonoma State hits in the game. Lipperd (13-4) pitched the first two innings, not allowing a hit, walking five and striking out three. Becerril pitched the rest of the way, giving up all thre HPU hits while walking one and striking out two.

Sonoma State will return to action on Tuesday in a non-conference doubleheader with Chaminade in Rohnert Park (1 p.m.) before traveling to Cal State Monterey Bay on Friday and Saturday for a four-game series with the Otters in Seaside.

Freshman pitcher Ciara Becerril and senior shortstop Rochelle Vanyi earned All-Tournament honors for their efforts at the Tournament of Champions.