Box Score

FRESNO, Calif. - Second seeded Fresno State knocked off the No. 12 and top seed University of Hawai`i softball team, 9-3 in the WAC tournament's semi-final, winner's bracket game. Starting pitcher Kate Robinson threw only 2.2 innings in the loss, dropping her record to 15-1 on the season. Hawai`i will now play the winner of the Nevada vs. San Jose State game tonight at 7:00 pm at Bulldog Diamond in Fresno, Calif.

Fresno State's offense came out firing in the bottom of the first, posting three runs to start the game. Haley Perkins was beaned on the first pitch of the game and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jenna Cervantez. Kristin Sylvester then hit a single up the middle to score Perkins from second. Kaulana Gould made a good throw from center to home, but it was late and it squirted away from catcher Kathryn Grimes to allow Sylvester to move to second. Merryanne Barr then hit a looping single to shallow center, moving Perkins to third. Gould tried to get the runner at three which allowed Barr to scoot into scoring position at second. Nichole Willis then walked to load the bases. Robin Mackin then hit a ball back to Robinson. It ricocheted off her and she tried to get the force at home, but the throw was late, scoring Sylvester. Next, Lisamarie Coronado hit a ground ball to first, it bounced away from Tyleen Tausaga, but she had enough time to cut the runner down at home, but Grimes couldn't hold on the ball, allowing Barr to score the Bulldogs' third run of the inning, still with one out. Shannon Garvin then hit a grounder to third baseman Clare Warwick who got the runner at home for the second out. Michelle Palazuelos then hit a fly ball to right for the last out.

Tausaga tried to answer immediately with a drive to deep rightfield, but Coronado made a great catch over the fence for the out. Mackin retired the first six Hawai`i batters in a row.

But in the top of the third, UH cut the Bulldogs' lead to 3-2. Valana Manuma started the inning off with a base hit to deep short. Alana Power followed with a shallow fly ball that fell into centerfield for another hit. Grimes then walked to load the bases. Tanisha Milca hit a grounder to third. Third baseman Ashley White made the play at home to get the lead runner for the first out. Then Warwick stepped to the plate and smacked a base hit down the leftfield line. Pinch runners Traci Yoshikawa and Julie Franklin both hustled home for UH's first runs of the game. After a strike out, Tausaga walked and then Fresno State got the last out on a fielder's choice hit to third by Robinson.

The Bulldogs' answered right back in the next half inning. After a pop-fly to short, Willis got a hard hit up the middle. Mackin followed with a grounder that was headed for Power at second base, but Robinson tried to make a stab at it and it bounced off her glove for a single. Coronado then hit a ground ball to third, and Warwick flipped to Manuma for the force at three. But Garvin followed with a double to the left-centerfield gap to score both Mackin and Coronado from second and first respectively. Robinson then walked the next two batters to load the bases again. Reliever Jessica Morton then entered the game with two outs, and got Cervantez to fly to to Brandi Peiler in left to end the inning.

Fresno State extended their lead in the bottom of the fourth. Willis drilled a two out home run into the leftfield bleachers. Mackin followed with a double to the left-centerfield gap. But Morton got the last out on a grounder to short.

Hawai`i got one run back in the top of the sixth. Tausaga led the inning off with a single to left. On the play, the ball went through the Fresno State leftfielder for an error, advancing Tausaga to second. Robinson, who stayed in the line-up as the designated player, then got another single to left. Pinch runner Kanani Warren went to third on the play to put runners at the corners. With Peiler at bat, the Bulldogs tried to pick Warren off at third. Warren dove back safely, but the catcher's throw down was off the mark and dribbled into leftfield, allowing Warren to score and move Robinson to second.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Bulldogs put the game away, scoring three more runs, giving All-American pitcher, Mackin more than enough support. Cervantez began the rally with a single to right. Morton was then lifted for Courtney Baughman who got Sylvester to strike out swinging. Barr then hit an RBI double down the leftfield to put both runners in scoring position. Willis followed with a second double to the fence in centerfield to score Cervantez. Mackin then hit a single to left to score pinch runner Sherman from third. Coronado then finished things with a sacrifice fly to left to score pinch runner Phipps from third for the Bulldogs' ninth run of the game.

For the Bulldogs, Mackin got the complete game win, throwing 7.0 innings, giving up three runs on nine hits with two walks and nine strike outs.

Hawai`i had three pitchers split the game. Robinson went 2.2 innings, giving up five runs on five hits with three walks and no strike outs. Morton threw 2.1 innings, giving up two runs on three hits and Baughman threw closed the game with an inning plus pitched. She also gave up two runs on three hits.

-UH-