Box Score

HONOLULU - Sophomore pitcher Justine Smethurst (7-3) threw a three-hit shut-out over Liberty (8-5) in a 6-0 win on the opening day of the Hawaiian Airlines Spring Fling tournament. Smethurst struck out nine,walked two, and faced only 24 batters. Tanisha Milca and Clare Warwick hit back-to-back home runs in the second to help Hawai`i win their fourth game in a row.

The Rainbow Wahine (19-5) scored first, in the bottom of the first with an RBI single by Tyleen Tausaga. Tausaga's hit drove in Warwick who had reached earlier on a fielder's choice.

In the second, Valana Manuma reached on a fielder's choice. Next, Alana Power hit a ground ball to short. Manuma beat the throw to second, but the shortstop's throw went into rightfield, allowing Manuma to scoot to third, leaving runners at the corners. Stacey Yamada then stepped to the plate and hit a slow grounder to third. On the play, Manuma broke for home, and the Flames' third baseman's only option was to get the out at one. Then Milca hit a two-run home run high over the centerfield fence. Warwick followed with a shot of her own that sailed over the fence in the left-center gap.

Hawai`i added a single run in the bottom of the fifth. Warwick got her second hit of the game to lead the inning off. She stole second and moved to third on a single up the middle by Tausaga. Kate Robinson then hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Warwick from third.

Liberty's Dana Wheeler took the loss, throwing 1.2 innings. She gave up five runs on four hits. Sarah Ellis finished the last 4.1 innings, giving up a single run on three hits with one strike out.

The Rainbow Wahine have another double header tomorrow, facing Boston College at 4:00 pm and No.14 Oregon State at 6:00 on the second day of the Spring Fling Tourney.

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