Box Score

FRESNO, Calif. - Jordan McPherson and the Nevada Wolfpack came back to force a winner-take-all-game after defeating Hawai`i, 4-2. Nevada was down 2-1 before scoring three runs in the fourth to go up 4-2. McPherson was able to thwart any Hawai`i ideas of scoring again. For Hawai`i, Courtney Baughman took the loss. The two teams will now play one more game for the WAC's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

Nevada broke out early, posting a run in the bottom of the first. Kymberly Silagyi got a one out single to start things off. Then with two outs, Brittany Lorenzen singled to drive in Silagyi for a quick 1-0 lead after one inning.

In the top of the third, UH took the lead by scoring two runs. Alana Power led off with a ground ball to third that was booted for an error. Valana Manuma sacrifice bunted to push Power to second. Brandi Peiler then hit a single up the middle to score Power. Peiler moved to second on the throw home. Tyleen Tausaga then hit another single up the middle to score Peiler to take the lead, 2-1.

Nevada answered back in the bottom of the fourth, scoring three runs to propel themselves into the lead. Candice Rainwater led off with a base hit to right. The next batter, Sarah Hunt, hit a ground ball to second, but Power missed the ball for an error that put runners at first and second with no outs. Justine Smethurst then entered the game in relief of Baughman. Kari Stockstill then sacrificed the two runners into scoring position for Katie Stith, who came through with a clutch two-run double over Peiler in leftfield. Two batters later, with two out, Tyler Schafer hit another single to left that drove in Stith to pad their lead, 4-2.

The score would stand up over the last three innings. McPherson gave up two runs on seven hits with seven walks.

Hawai`i used three pitchers in the loss, Baughman threw 3.0 innings, giving up three runs on five hits with two strike outs. Smethurst then entered, but only threw one complete inning, yielding a run on two hits. Jessica Morton closed the game, throwing 2.0 innings, giving up no runs with one walk and four strike outs.

Hawai`i and Nevada will now play for the right to represent the WAC in the NCAA tournament in about 30 minutes.

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