Box Score

HONOLULU - The New Mexico State Aggies (22-13, 5-2 WAC) held off Hawai`i (21-14, 5-1 WAC), 1-0. Aggies' pitcher Sarah Seagraves (13-7, 3-1 WAC) threw a five-hit, complete-game, shut-out for the win. The loss dropped UH from the unbeaten ranks in conference play and snapped a seven-game win streak.

Hawai`i actually out hit NMSU and had less errors, but was unable capitalize on scoring opportunities. The Rainbow Wahine had runners on in every inning but the six and stranded 11 base runners in the game. Twice, UH had full base, but NMSU's Seagraves was able to get out of trouble each time. Hawai`i had runners in scoring position in five of seven innings.

Justine Smethurst (10-8, 3-1 WAC) also threw a complete game in the loss. She gave up one, unearned run, scattered three hits, while walking three and striking out eight Aggies.

New Mexico State scored what would be the only run of the game in the top of the fourth. Mailei Hilva led the inning off with a walk. The next batter, Stephanie Herrera hit a sharp grounder between short and third. UH third baseman Clare Warwick pounced on it and tried to get the lead runner at two, but the throw was wide, pulling second baseman Richie Ann Titcomb off the bag. A wild pitch then pushed the runners to second and third. Smethurst got the next batter to strike out, but Haley Johnston then pushed a sacrifice bunt to short, allowing pinch runner Kayla Luttmers to score from third to put the Aggies up 1-0.

That's all Seagraves and NMSU needed for the victory. It was her fifth shut-out of the year. For the game, she threw 7.0 innings, scattering five hits, while walking three and striking out four.

Hawai`i had a few good scoring opportunites. In the bottom of the second, a pair of infield fielding errors put runners on first and second. Kristi Yoshizawa then laid down a sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position with one out. The NMSU pitcher then walked designated player Audrey Andrade to load the bases. But the rally stalled, leaving all three runners stranded after Seagraves induced an infield pop-up and a fly to left.

In the third, Clare Warwick led the inning off with a single off the pitcher. Two batters later, Tyleen Tausaga stroked a double to the right-centerfield gap, putting runners on second and third. But an infield pop-up and a line drive to the second baseman thwarted the rally.

Hawai`i made things interesting in the bottom of the seventh though. The second batter of the inning, Valana Manuma got a single to left-center. The next batter, Warwick, hit a flare to shallow left, but the NMSU shortstop made a nice running backhand catch to get the second out. The next batter, Brandi Peiler then hit a pop fly to the first baseman. It would've been the third out to end the game, but she missed the ball off her glove. With two outs, the runners were moving, so instead of the ballgame ending, there were runners on second and third with Hawai`i clean-up hitter, Tausaga coming up to bat. Seagraves walked her to load the bases, and then proceeded to strike out Tanisha Milca swinging to seal the win.

The two teams will face off again tomorrow in a double header starting at 2:00 p.m.

Leading Hitters:
V. Manuma: 2-4
Tausaga: 1-2, double

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