Box Score

LOGAN, Utah - Sophomore pitcher Justine Smethurst fired her first no-hitter of the year as the No. 14 University of Hawai`i softball team (44-9, 15-2 WAC) clinched at least a share of the Western Athletic Conference title with an 11-0 victory over Utah State (17-30, 5-9 WAC). Tanisha Milca led the game off with her 12th home run of the year and Richie-Anne Titcomb came through with a bases loaded triple in the top of the seventh to put the game away.

The win clinches at least a share of the WAC regular season title. It is the second time they've won the conference title. The first WAC crown came in 2003.

For Smethurst (16-7, 4-2 WAC), it was her fourth no-hitter of her career after firing three perfect games last year as a freshman. Her second perfect game in 2006 was against Utah State at home. This year, she walked two in the first and then retired the next 16 straight. For Smethurst, she walked the two batters and struck out 10 in the game.

Milca led the game off with a home run. It was the the third time this season the Milca has accomplished that feat this season. The Rainbow Wahine added another run in the second. Kate Robinson started the inning off with a single to left. She moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. Alana Power then drove Robinson in with a single to the right-center gap to put UH up 2-0 after one-and-a-half innings.

In the third, Hawai`i added three more runs. Kaulana Gould began the rally with a one out single to center. Tyleen Tausaga then drew a walk to put two runners on. Robinson then hit a high, shallow fly to right that dropped in between the second baseman and the rightfielder who was playing deep. The ball kicked away from the rightfielder, scoring Gould and allowing Robinson to hustle to second for an RBI double. Julie Franklin, who was pinch running for Tausaga, then scored on a wild pitch. Next, Brandi Peiler had an opposite field single that scored Robinson for the inning's third run.

The Rainbow Wahine then pulled away from the Aggies in the sixth. Power led the inning off by getting hit with the pitch. Milca then doubled to the left-center gap to put both runners into scoring position. Power then scored on a wild pitch. Warwick then beat out an infield single squibbed back to the pitcher towards first. Gould followed with a single to right, driving in Milca. Gould advanced to second on the throw home. Tausaga was then intentionally walked to load the bases. Robinson then hit right back to the pitcher, who cut down Warwick at the plate for the second out of the inning. Titcomb then stepped to the plate and cleared the bases with a triple to right-centerfield. Titcomb then scored off a Manuma single to push the score to 11-0.

Hawai`i will close its regular season with today's second game against Utah State.

-UH-