Box Score

LAS CRUCES, N.M. - Tyleen Tausaga led the No. 18 Rainbow Wahine softball team (39-8, 10-1 WAC) to a 7-3 victory over New Mexico State (22-19, 4-4 WAC). Tausaga went 2-for-2 with a three-run home run and a sacrifice fly. Tanisha Milca hit her third home run in as many games as sophomore pitcher Justine Smethurst (15-6, 3-1 WAC) earned the complete-game win at the NMSU Softball Complex in chilly 43 degree weather.

The `Bows posted a run to start the game off in the first. Clare Warwick hit a one-out single to right. Kaulana Gould then laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Warwick to second. But on the play, NMSU pitcher, Sammie Dillard, threw the ball over the first baseman, allowing Warwick to hustle to third. Tyleen Tausaga then hit a sacrifice fly to left to drive in Warwick for the game's first run.

In the top of the third, UH extended their lead to 4-0. Warwick reached after a fielding error by the second baseman. Gould then drove a double to left-centerfield, putting both runners in scoring position. Tausaga then stepped to the plate and stroked an three-run home run to the opposite field.

The Aggies responded in the bottom of the third, starting the inning with a walk to Kayla Luttmers and three consecutive infield singles by Rishelle Gastelum, Collen Kimbro, and Stephanie Herrera. Herrera's chopper to third scored Luttermers for New Mexico State's first run. The bases were still loaded with no outs, but Smethurst then retired the next three batters--NMSU's three, four, and five batters--in a row with a swinging strike out, a high pop-up to short, and a ground out to short. After three complete innings, UH led, 3-0.

Hawai`i answered right back in the top of the fourth. With one out in the inning, Kathryn Grimes started things off with a walk. Then Milca got her second homer of the series with a blast to straight-away centerfield to put UH up, 6-1.

Valana Manuma led the inning off with a double. She moved to third on a ground out and scored on an RBI single to right by Grimes.

New Mexico battled back to score two runs in the bottom of the sixth, cutting Hawai`i's lead to 7-3. Stacey Lien led the inning off with a single to right. Kristi Hanan then was hit by a pitch. A ground out to third by Kayla Luttmers pushed both runners into scoring position. Then Rishelle Gastelum hit a ground ball to short. But on the play, Manuma tried to cut down the runner at the plate, the throw was wild and two unearned runs scored.

Both sides were unable to score in the seventh, and the final score was 7-3 in favor of UH.

Smethurst threw 7.0 innings and gave up three runs (two unearned), while walking two and striking out five.

For NMSU, three pitchers threw in the game. Sammie Dillard got the start and closed the game. In all, she threw 3.1 innings, gave up four runs on three hits with a walk and a strike out. Rachel Lopez threw 1.0 innings giving up two runs on two hits with one walk and Jamie Nussbaun threw 2.2 innings, giving up just one run on four hits with a walk.

The two teams will battle each other in the series final game shortly.

-UH-