Box Score

HONOLULU - In her first start of the year, pitcher Kate Robinson fired a perfect game against New Mexico State in a 8-0 win. Robinson, who had only appeared as a reliever thus far this season, struck out a career-high 14 Aggies, including the last six of the game. The game ended in six innings on back-to-back home runs by Brandi Peiler and Tyleen Tausaga, forcing the eight-run mercy rule to be in effect.

For Robinson, a sophomore out of Kamehameha Schools, it was a career game. It was her first no-hitter/perfect game; she had career-high of 14 strike outs; and the six innings matched her career high of innings pitched. The 14 strike outs was one short of tying Brooke Wilkins' record of 15 which was set in 1994. The total though did tie Paula Blanning's effort against Detroit Mercy earlier this season. Amazingly, it is the third perfect game thrown by the Hawai`i pitching staff this season. The first came in a 6-0 win over Longwood by Justine Smethurst on May 16th. The second was a combined, five-inning effort that saw Smethurst and Jessica Morton shut-out Grambling State, 25-0 on May 27 in Louisiana. Catcher Kristi Yoshizawa has caught and called all but one inning of all three perfect games. She took a foul ball of her throwing hand late in the Grambling State game and finished as the game's designated player.

The Rainbow Wahine jumped on the Aggies early, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first. Valana Manuma led the home half of the inning off with a single to left. The next batter, Clare Warwick executed a sacrifice bunt that the first baseman threw high. Two batters later, with runners at first and second, Tyleen Tausaga stroked a single to left, to score Manuma from second. On the play, Warwick moved to third and Tausaga advanced on the throw home to second. Tanisha Milca then hit a sacrifice fly to left field that was caught in foul territory, but scored Warick from third. That put Hawai`i up 2-0 after one complete inning.

In the bottom of the second, UH added three more runs to go up 5-0. Kristi Yoshizawa then hit a hard ground ball that went right between the NMSU first baseman's legs to put runners on at first and second. Two batters later, Manuma hit a bases clearing double to the right-centerfield gap. After a pitching change, Warwick was then hit by a pitch to place runners at first and second again. A single up the middle by Brandi Peiler loaded the bases for Tausaga, who hit a hard ground ball to first base. The first baseman's only play was at first, and that allowed the third run of the inning to score.

The Rainbow Wahine had runners on and threatened to score in every inning, but eventually closed the game out in the bottom of the sixth. Warwick led the inning off with an infield single. The next batter, Peiler then crushed a two-run home run over the left-centerfield fence. Not to be out-done, Tausaga then stepped up to the plate and hit a walk-off, solo shot to straight-away center for the eighth, and final run of the game. It was the fifth time this season that Hawai`i has hit back-to-back home runs. The did the feat agaisnt Utah, Mississippi Valley State, Louisiana Tech, Grambling State, and today against NMSU.

After shutting out the Rainbow Wahine last night, Sarah Seagrave only lasted 1.1 innings today, giving up five runs on four hits with two strike outs. Relief pitcher RAchel Lopez threw the rest of the game (3.2 innings) and gave up three runs on eight hits while walking two and striking out two.

Hawai`i now has a week off before they hit the road for two crucial WAC series at Fresno State and Nevada. They then return May 5 and 6 for their last homestand of the year against Utah State.

Leading Hitters:
Manuma, V: 3-4, double, two runs scored, two RBI
Warwick: 1-2, two runs
Peiler: 2-3, home run, two RBI
Tausaga: 2-3, home run, three RBI
Kaulana Gould: 2-3 Audrey Andrade: 2-3, one run

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