Box Score

HONOLULU - Utah State's Sarah Fleming hit a two-run home run in the top of the first inning. That was enough for Aggie pitcher, Leslie Higley and her defense who held off the Rainbow Wahine (26-20, 8-7 WAC), 2-1 in a conference game at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. For Higley, it was her first win of the season.

The Aggies (8-37,3-13 WAC)started the game off with a bang. The second batter of the game, Whitnie Ray, hit a base hit up the middle and Sara Fleming followed with a bomb over the leftfield fence. Utah State finished the top of the first leading, 2-0.

Hawai`i pitcher Courtney Baughman then settled down and retired the next 13 batters in a row. She only gave up one more hit on the day, and on the play, Aubrie Stroman hit a line shot over centerfielder Kaulana Gould. But Gould fielded it off the fence and fired to Valana Manuma who was waiting at second for Stroman who was trying to lengthen her single into a double for the third out of the inning. Baughman only faced 24 batters while throwing a complete game three-hitter. She walked one Aggie and struck out two.

Hawai`i had runners on in every inning and out-hit Utah State with seven singles to their three hits. But the Aggies' defense came through in the clutch, turning two double plays and Higley was able to excape pressure situations unscathed. With the exception of the sixth inning.

Tyleen Tausaga led off the sixth with a looping single that landed just over a diving second baseman. Tanisha Milca followed with a single up the middle to put runners at first and second. Gould stepped up but hit into a 4-6-3 double play, but Tausaga moved to third on the play. Kristi Yoshizawa then hit a slow roller between first and second for an infield single that drove in Tausaga from third to cut the Utah State lead, 2-1.

The Rainbow Wahine were unable to score in the bottom of the seventh, and the game ended with Utah State winning 2-1. Higley threw the complete game, giving one run on seven hits, with three walks and two strike outs.

The two teams will end both their regular seasons with the series finale starting in about 20 minutes.

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