Box Score

HONOLULU - The Nittany Lions (13-3) and tournament MVP Ashley Esparza, shut down Hawai`i (12-10), 2-0 to win the Hawaiian Airlines Spring Fling Tournament at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium tonight. Esparza gave up five hits early, but then retired the last 14 batters in a row.

Hawai`i came out firing on all cylinders. With one out in the bottom of the first, Clare Warwick started things off by hitting a line-shot double of the top of the centerfield fence. Two batters later, Tyleen Tausaga was intentionally walked to put runners at first and second. Valana Manuma then came up and hit a shallow single to left that the leftfielder came up with cleanly to cut down a sprinting Warwick at the plate for the third out.

For the second night in a row, Justine Smethurst took a no-hitter into the fifth inning. And for the second night in a row, she was on the losing end of the decision. In the fifth inning, Leigh Murray led the inning off with a single to center. She was pushed to second on a sac bunt by Jenn Reynolds. Two batters later, Meghan Wolfer laid down a beautiful bunt single to put runners at the corners with two outs. Penn State then tried a double steal, but the throw went off the short cut's glove, allowing Murray to score standing up from third. The next batter, Jen Williams then hit an RBI single to right to knock in Wolfer for another run to push the score to 2-0.

Smethurst retired the next seven in a row, but the Rainbow Wahine were not able to battle back. On the game, she threw 7.0 innings, giving up two runs, one unearned, on three hits while striking out six.

UH actually out hit the Nittany Lions. But, after Kaulana Gould's one out hit in the third, Esparza really bore down and did not allow another ball out of the infield. For the game, she scattered four hits with one walk and five strike outs.

Penn State ended the tourney with a 5-0 record to capture the title. Hawai`i ended with a 3-2 mark and tied for second with UCSB.

The Rainbow Wahine now head into the Bank of Hawaii Invitational which runs from March 16-19. Teams participating in the tourney are Kansas, Oklahoma State, Northwestern, San Diego State, and Longwood.

-uh-

Hawaiian Airlines Spring Fling All-Tournament Team
Pitcher: Ashley Esparza, Penn State
Pitcher: Missy Beseres, Penn State
Catcher: Kristi Yoshizawa, Hawai`i
First base: Tyleen Tausaga, Hawai`i
Second Base: Christine Ramos, UC Santa Barbara
Third Base: Clare Warwick, Hawai`i
Shortstop: Valana Manuma, Hawai`i
Outfield: Tanisha Milca, Hawai`i
Outfield: Danielle Kinley, Penn State
Outfield: Caitlin Hooe, Longwood
(Voted by coaches)