HONOLULU - The University of Hawai`i, behind the brilliant pitching performance of Shannon Tabion and the big sticks of Kate Judd and Stacey Porter, salvaged the final game of the four-game Western Athletic Conference series against Fresno State today. The game was originally part of a doubleheader yesterday, but rain halted play and resumed today with UH winning, 5-1.

When the game was halted yesterday at 4:14 p.m., Fresno State had worked the bases loaded and Jamie Southern was at the plate with a 1-0 count and two down in the top of the third inning.

Today, Tabion (4-3) came out and threw three-straight balls to walk in Vanessa Czarnecki from third base and give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead. However, Tabion struck out Julie Selbicky with the bases still loaded to stop the scoring.

Hawai`i tied the game up in the fourth off Bulldog starting pitcher Leslie Poole (12-4) as Stacie Hirano doubled to left center with one out. Judd then hit a single to left that Hirano couldn't advance on, but then both runners moved up on Porter's ground out to short. Denise Dahlberg then nubbed a pitch out in front of the plate where both Poole and catcher Pam West miscommunicated on allowing Hirano to score and tie the game and one apiece.

UH broke the game wide open with a four-run sixth inning. It began with Natalie Gonzales' single to left center, moved to second on Hirano sacrifice bunt, and scored on Judd's single up the middle. Tracie Uchima then pinch-ran for Judd and came home on Porter's 2-run shot to deep left center field to give UH a 4-1 lead. Dahlberg then doubled to left and scored on April Crowell's double to left center to cap the UH scoring.

Hawai`i improved to 30-20 on the season and 11-5 in the WAC while Fresno State fell to 41-14 and 12-2.

Hawai`i heads to the Northwest next week to battle WAC foe Portland State April 27-28 in doubleheaders and finish off the trip at Oregon April 30 for two games.