Box Score

MORAGA, Calif. - After a slow start, the Rainbow Wahine softball team (24-17, 7-4 WAC) pulled away from Saint Mary's (5-40, 1-12 PCSC), 10-3 in a non-conference game at Cottrell Field in Moraga, Calif. Valana Manuma went 3-5 with a double, a home run, and three RBI and Brandi Peiler was 2-4 with a home run and three RBI to lead UH. Justine Smethurst got the complete-game win, firing a three-hitter. She gave up three unearned runs on one walk and seven strike outs.

The Gaels got on the scoreboard first. In the bottom of the second, SMC jumped out to a 3-0 lead. The lead off batter Galloway, reached on an error by the shortstop. The next batter moved her second on a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher. Reuzga then got a single to the pitcher, putting runners at the corners. Shelley Taketa then stepped up and hit a ground ball to short. UH shortstop Manuma's throw was late to the plate, and SMC scored the first run of the game. Two batters later, Russell hit a line drive that went off the glove of a leaping Clare Warwick. The ball trickled away for a two-run double. At the end of two, Saint Mary's were leading 3-0.

But in the top of the third, UH responded. Richie Anne Titcomb led the inning off with a double that rolled right over first base and on down the line. Manuma followed with a single to left center and advanced to second on the throw to third. Warwick then hit a ground ball off a diving SMC first baseman to score Titcomb from third. Peiler then crushed a three-run home run to straightaway center, propelling Hawai`i over SMC, 4-3 at then end of two-and-a-half-innings.

The Rainbow Wahine added another run in the top of the fourth. Titcomb started the rally with a single up the middle. Manuma then smacked a double to rightfield. On the play Titcomb raced around the bases, but was cut down at the plate by a good relay, 9-to-4-to-2. On the throw, Manuma scooted to third. Warwick then drew a walk to put runners on the corners. Peiler then picked up her third RBI of the game with a single to left-center scoring Manuma from third to push Hawai`i's lead to 5-3.

Hawai`i then exploded for five runs in the top of the fifth. Tanisha Milca led the inning off with a double that hit the bottom of the left-centerfield wall. Gould then pushed her to third with a ground ball to the first baseman. Kristi Yoshizawa then got a looping single over first base to score Milca from third. Kate Robinson followed with hit a single to left. On the play, the leftfielder booted the ball, allowing both runners to advance into scoring position. Titcomb then hit ground ball to the pitcher, she looked Yoshizawa back to third and then tried to throw Titcomb out at first. But her throw sailed high, allowing Yoshizawa to score and once again, SMC was left with both runners in scoring position. Manuma then came to the plate and smashed a long fly over the leftfield fence for a three-run home run, giving UH a10-3 lead after the top of the fifth.

Leading Hitters:
Hawai`i
Manuma, V.: 3-5, three runs, three RBI, double, home run
Peiler: 2-4, one run, three RBI, home run
Tyleen Tausaga: 2-4
Milca: 2-5, one run, double
Kaulana Gould: 2-5, double
Yoshizawa: 2-4, one run, one RBI
Titcomb: 3-4, two runs, RBI, double

Saint Mary's
Russell: 1-2, double, two-RBI

-UH-