Box Score

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - Junior pitcher Kate Robinson (12-0, 5-0 WAC) fired a complete-game, four-hit shut-out in a 6-0 win over New Mexico State on a blustery night at the NMSU Softball Complex. It was her eighth shutout of the season. The No. 18 Rainbow Wahine's offense was highlighted by a first inning RBI double just inside the rightfield line by Tyleen Tausaga and a two-run home run to left into the wind by Tanisha Milca.

The Rainbow Wahine (38-8, 9-1 WAC) jumped out to a quick, 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Milca led the game off with a walk. After a fly ball to left, Kaulana Gould hit into a fielder's choice to second who got Milca at two. Then, Tausaga ripped a shot to the rightfield corner to score Gould from first.

In the third, Kathryn Grimes started the inningoff with a single up the middle. Traci Yoshikawa entered as a pinch runner for Grimes. Next, Milca stepped to the plate and drilled a high fly ball into the teeth of 30 mph winds, over the leftfield fence. Going into the bottom of the third, UH led, 3-0.

The Aggies had their best scoring opportunity in the bottom of the fourth. With one out, Stephanie Herrera got her second infield hit of the game with a bunt single. Ashley Roskos then hit a chopper over third to put runners at first and second. Clean-up hitter Stacey Lien then hit a ground ball back to Robinson on the mound who got the out at one, allowing both runners to move into scoring position. Angie Ortega then hit a ground ball between first and second, but Alana Power knocked it down on a diving stop and flipped it to an outstretched Tausaga for the final out of the inning.

Hawai`i added three insurance runs in the top of the seventh. Milca started things off with a double down the leftfield line. An out later, Gould singled to left to put runners at the corners. Tausaga then hit an opposite field single to left to drive in Milca. Both runners advanced into scoring position on the throw home. Robinson then hit a sacrifice fly to left to score Gould from third. Next, with two outs, Peiler hit a single to left that drove in pinch runner Julie Franklin from second to push UH's lead to, 6-0.

Robinson finished the game strong, retiring the last seven batters in a row. She threw 7.0 innings, gave up four hits, walked none, and struck out two Aggies.

Kim Watson (15-10) took the loss for NMSU. She threw 6.2 innings, gave up six runs on nine hits with five walks and one strike out.

The two teams finish the three-game series with a double header tomorrow at 1:00 pm.

-UH-