Box Score

FRESNO, Calif. - The Rainbow Wahine (32-20, 12-7 WAC) capitalized on two crucial errors in the bottom of the sixth to give the win over Nevada, 1-0. UH's Justine Smethurst threw a two-hitter and Nevada's Jordan McPherson fired a four-hitter, with both throwing complete games in the pitcher's duel. Hawai`i will now play for the WAC Championship in game two of the best-of-three series against Nevada in 30 minutes at Bulldog Stadium on the campus of Fresno State.

In the top of the fourth, tried to mount a rally. Brittany Lorenzen hit a double to deep rightfield with one out in the inning. The next batter, Candice Rainwater then grounded out to first, moving Lorenzen to third. Sarah Hunt then stepped to the plate and got a four-pitch walk to put runners at the corners for Kari Stockstill with two outs. Smethurst got out of the inning with a strike out looking.

In the bottom of the fourth, Hawai`i tried to break the scoreless game. Brandi Peiler led off with a single to rightfield. The next batter, Tyleen Tausaga then hit a ground ball to short. Nevada got the out at two, but Tausaga beat the throw at first. The next batter, Malamaisaua Manuma then laid down a sacrifice bunt to third, but her throw sailed over the first baseman, allowing Tausaga to move to third. But on the play, Manuma came up limping, and was replaced by Audrey Andrade. Kaulana Gould then came up with runners at the corners and hit a ground ball to second. But with a pulled-in infield, the second baseman cut down Tausaga who tried to score from third. Now, with runners at first and second, Kristi Yoshizawa then hit a line drive that tipped of the second baseman's glove and rolled just a few feet from her. On the play, Andrade was sprinting from second with two outs, but second baseman Kymberly Silagyi gathered the ball and fired home to catcher Katie Stith who was waiting for Andrade for the third out.

In the bottom of the sixth, Peiler led the inning off with a fly ball to left-center. But both the left and centerfielder converged on the ball on a full sprint, and the leftfielder dropped the ball. Peiler went all the way to second. McPherson was able to get the next to outs. Tausaga flew out to right and Andrade to struck out. So, with two outs, Gould came to the plate with Peiler still at second, and hit a ground ball to short. The throw was there in time, but the ball went in and out of the glove of the first baseman for an error. On the play though, Peiler scooted around third and slid in front of the tag for the game's first run.

Smethurst then did the rest, striking out the first two in the inning and getting a come-backer to the mound to end the game.

Smethurst had three walks and four strikes on the game. She finished strong, retiring the last 10 batters of the game in a row.

McPherson has thrown every out for the Wolfpack in this tournament. The two runs scored against her--one in the third inning of their Fresno State win, and today's single run in the sixth--were both unearned. In 28.0 innings, she has an ERA of 0.00. She walked none and struck out three.

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