Box Score

HONOLULU - The Rainbow Wahine softball team (30-7, 3-0 WAC) won its 30th game of the season with a 6-2 win over Nevada (7-22, 0-3 WAC) at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. Junior pitcher Kate Robinson (8-0, 2-0 WAC) threw her second complete game three-hitter in a row to sweep their opening WAC series. It is the first time UH has swept Nevada since 2003.

Nevada got off to a quick start for the second straight game. Sam Bias had a one out double down the leftfield line. Then a fielding error at short put runners allowed Brittany Puzey to reach safely, putting runners at first and second. Kelsey Starr then hit another ground ball to short, but this time Hawai`i was able to get cut down the lead runner at third. Then, with two outs, Kym Silagy stepped up and smacked a double to center to drive in both Puzey and Starr to go up 2-0.

Hawai`i broke through in the third. Kathryn Grimes started things off with a one out single to center. Richie-Anne Titcomb then hit a single up the middle. Next, Clare Warwick walked to load the bases. A second walk of the inning to Kaulana Gould forced Grimes home for UH's first run. Tyleen Tausaga then came through with a two-RBI single to left-center, scoring both Titcomb and Warwick to push Hawai`i up 3-2.

In the fifth, the 'Bows added two more runs. Gould had a one out single to center to start the rally. Tausaga then got her second hit of the game. On the play, Nevada threw to third to try to catch Gould unsuccessfully and Tausaga advanced to second on the throw. Traci Yoshikawa entered the game for Tausaga as a pinch runner. Nevada then intentionally walked Robinson to load the bases for Brandi Peiler. Peiler responded by hitting a high sacrifice fly to left to score Gould. Valana Manuma followed with a double to left-center to drive in Yoshikawa from second to extend UH's lead to 5-2.

Nevada threatened to score in the top of the sixth. Bias got her second double of the game, this time a shot down the leftfield line. A walk and a fielding error loaded the bases, but with two outs, Robinson got the final out on a strike out looking.

Hawai`i responded by tacking on another run in the bottom of the sixth. Titcomb hit a double to left-center. A passed ball moved her to second. Then after a pop-out, Gould got her second RBI of the night with a single to right.

Robinson threw 7.0 innings, giving up the two early runs, on three hits while walking one and striking out eight. After the RBI double by Silagyi in the top of the first, Robinson proceeded to retire the next 14 batters in a row. It was her eighth complete game win of the season.

Nevada's Katie Holverson also threw a complete game in the loss. She threw 6.0 innings, giving up six runs on eight hits with five walks and four strike outs.

Hawai`i's 30-7 start is the best since 1994 when the record breaking team started the season at 36-7.

The Rainbow Wahine will have well deserved two days off before squaring off against Louisiana Tech this weekend. Friday's single game starts at 6:00 pm. On Saturday, the two teams will play a double header starting at 2:00 pm.

-UH-