Box Score

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Sophomore pitcher Courtney Baughman struck out a career-high nine batters as she fired a five-hit shut-out over Santa Clara (7-32, 0-0 PCSC). Sophomore rightfielder Tanisha Milca and sophomore third baseman Clare Warwick both hit home runs to help lift Hawai`i over the Broncos at Marsalli Field in Santa Clara, Calif.

The No. 21 ranked Rainbow Wahine (37-8, 8-1 WAC) jumped out in front in the third. Alana Power led the inning off with a single to right. Two batters later, Milca hit a two-run home run over the leftfield fence. It was Milca's first start in 11 games after an injury.

The Broncos rallied in the bottom half of the inning. Emily Batt led the inning off with a single. After a foul pop fly fielded by Power at second, Nori Kamada hit a single to left to put runners at first and second with one out. A passed ball pushed both runners into scoring position. But Baughman then got Meghan Chavez to strikeout on a clutch change-up and Angela Kabanuk hit a line shot to short, but Valana Manuma made a lunging catch to end the inning.

Hawai`i added to their lead in the top of the sixth. With one out, Kaulana Gould reached on a fielding error by the first baseman. Tyleen Tausaga then got a single to put runners at first and second. A passed ball moved them both into scoring position. Then, after an out, Brandi Peiler stepped to the plate. After two balls, the Broncos chose to intentionally walk her to load the bases. UH then linked three RBI singles in a row. Manuma got the first, a single up the middle to drive in Gould. Power then got a single to center that drove in Traci Yoshikawa, who was pinch running for Tausaga. Finally, Katie Grimes hit a single to deep short to score Peiler, extending UH's lead to, 5-0.

Clare Warwick then led the seventh off with a line shot home run to centerfield. Gould followed with a double to the left-centerfield gap. An out later, Kate Robinson drove in Gould with a single to left that put UH up 7-0 entering the bottom of the seventh.

Baughman's start was the first since Mar. 8 against Boston College and first win since Mar. 1 against Kent State. The nine strike outs beat her old career-high of seven against Grambling State in 2006.

For Milca, today's game also marked her return to action after missing 11 games to injury. She picked up right where she left off, hitting her ninth home run of the year.

The Rainbow Wahine will leave the San Jose area early tomorrow morning for Las Cruces, New Mexico where they will take on the Aggies this weekend.

-UH-