Box Score

LAS VEGAS, Nev. - On a chilly Las Vegas night, the No.4 Tennessee Lady Volunteers (8-0) caught fire late in the game to defeat Hawai`i 13-1 in the last day of the UNLV Louisville Slugger Desert Classic. The Rainbow Wahine (7-6) came out swinging, but it was the Lady Vols' offense that powered them to the win, amassing 17 hits of UH pitching.

The Rainbow Wahine got on the board first, scoring a run in the third. Freshman centerfielder Tanisha Milca led the inning off with a single to right-centerfield. The following batter, freshman rightfielder Audrey Andrade then hit a double to the right-center gap, scoring a sprinting Milca from first.

Hawai`i's Justine Smethurst looked solid through the first four innings, holding the Lady Vols scoreless, scattering three hits and only one walk. But, in the top of the fifth, the Lady Vols pummeled the Rainbow Wahine for six consecutive hits, using their speed, power, and bat control to forge a five run lead over UH. Tennessee brought a total of 10 batters to the plate. During the barrage, Jessica Morton came in relief of Smethurst to stop the bleeding. Morton gave up one RBI-hit, with the run charged to Smethurst, but otherwise stopped the Lady Vols. She was able to get all three outs to end the fifth.

In the sixth, Tennessee added another run, but it was the top of the seventh in which the Lady Vols ran away with the game. They scored six runs, including a three run home run by Kristi Durant to close the game with a twelve run advantage.

Abbott threw a complete game, striking out a season-low seven batters, allowing a season-high four hits, including two doubles, and walked none.

For UH, Smethurst took the loss to drop her record to 4-2 on the year. She threw 4.0 innings giving up six runs on nine hits with two walks. Morton threw 2.0 innings yielding five runs on six hits with two walks and a strike out. And Paula Blanning who finished the game gave up two runs on two hits with a walk and a strike out in one inning of work.

Hawai`i was led offensively by Milca who was 2-2 with a double and Andrade 1-2 with a double and an RBI.

The Rainbow Wahine will next see action in the Pepsi Malihini Kipa Aloha Tournament March 2-5. Mercer, UC Riverside, Florida International, No.8 California, and Mississippi Valley State will all be participating.

-uh-