Box Score

FRESNO, Calif. - Freshman pitcher Justine Smethurst fired her third, solo perfect game in a five-inning, 8-0 win over opening round opponent Louisiana Tech. Smethurst matched her career-high with 11 strike outs, and allowed no ball to reach the outfield. Hawai`i will now play No.2 Seed San Jose State at 5:00 p.m. tonight.

Hawaii jumped out to an early lead, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first. Valana Manuma led the game off with a walk. Clare Warwick moved her to second on a ground out to the second baseman. Brandi Peiler then hit a double to the left-centerfield gap to score Manuma. Tyleen Tausaga then hit a hard ground ball to the right side of the infield moving Peiler to third. On the play, the second baseman booted the ball and it rolled into rightfield. Peiler crossed the plate and Tausaga hustled to second. Tanisha Milca then ripped a triple to the right-center gap, scoring Tausaga easily from second. But unfortunately, on the play, Milca hurt her left hand while sliding into the base and had to leave the game. She was replaced by Audrey Andrade. But after the first, UH was up 3-0.

In the second, the Rainbow Wahine continued to hit the ball, adding another four runs. Kate Robinson led the inning off with a double to left-center. Alana Power then hit a looping single into leftfield. The leftfielder tried to make a play on Robinson who went to third, but the throw allowed Power to scoot to second. With both runners in scoring position, Manuma then hit a single to left that drove in both Robinson and Power. Warwick then hit a shot down the leftfield line for a double to move two runners in scoring position again. Peiler stepped to the plate and hit a sacrifice fly to deep rightfield to score Manuma and move Warwick to third. Tausaga then came up and hit a line drive right to the shortstop, but she couldn't hang on the ball and it rolled into the outfield. On the play, Warwick crossed the plate and Tausaga moved to second when the infielders were caught napping. After two complete innings, the Rainbow Wahine had a 7-0 lead.

Andrade led the bottom of the fifth off with a double to the right-center gap. Kaulana Gould then picked up her first single of the game with a hit to left, moving Andrade to third. Kristi Yoshizawa then hit a single to leftfield to drive in the game-ending eighth run.

Louisiana Tech went through three pitchers. Kristina Oliver got the loss, throwing 1.0 innings. She gave up seven runs on six hits with a walk and a strike out. Kristin Rupp then threw 1.1 innings, gave up no runs. And Leslie Aycock closed the game, giving up one run on three hits with a strike out.

For Smethurst, she has been a part of four perfect games now. One was a five-inning combined effort with Jessica Morton in a 25-0 win over Grambling State. The other two were against Longwood and Utah State. The fifth perfect game was thrown by Robinson at home against New Mexico State. The pitching staff has thrown five on the year now.

Leading Hitters
Hawai`i
Manuma: 1-2, two runs, two RBI
Warwick: 1-3, double, one run
Peiler: 1-3, double, one run, two RBI
Milca: triple, two RBI
Andrade: 1-2 double, one run
Yoshizawa: 1-3,double, RBI
Robinson: 2-2, double, one run

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