Box Score

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The University of Hawai`i softball team (48-11, 16-2 WAC) upset host and top-seeded UCLA, 3-1 in eight innings to advance to the Los Angeles Regional championship game tomorrow at Easton Stadium. Brandi Peiler came through with a bases loaded double that drove in Clare Warwick and Tyleen Tausaga to take the lead in the top of the eighth. Kate Robinson (16-1) earned the win with her 16th complete game in 2007.

It was Hawai`i's second straight extra-inning win after defeating UC Santa Barbara, 2-0 in 10 innings yesterday. The 'Bows are now 4-2 in extra inning games.

After five scoreless innings, the sixth was full of excitement for both teams. With one out, the Rainbow Wahine mounted a rally. Kaulana Gould got her second hit of the game with a base hit up the middle to start things off. Tyleen Tausaga, with the outfield playing deep, followed with a blooper single to centerfield. Then Kate Robinson hit a third straight single to load the bases. Brandi Peiler then battled at the plate with several foul balls before hitting a sacrifice fly to leftfield to drive in Gould from third, for the game's first run.

UCLA answered right back in the bottom half of the inning, to knot the score at 1-1. Tara Henry led the inning off with a single to left. She moved to second on a sacrifice bunt to third. On the play, Clare Warwick fielded it, then threw the ball to first while jumping over Tausaga who was trying to get out of the way. Robinson then got Jaisa Creps to foul fly out to first baseman Tausaga. Lisa Dodd then walked to put runners at first and second. Jodie Legaspi then followed with a two-out single up the middle to score Henry, who was running on contact with two outs, easily from second.

Both sides were unable to score in the seventh, so the game went into extra innings. Warwick led the inning off with a sharp single to right. She moved to second on a sacrifice bunt to third by Gould. Tausaga then was intentionally walked for the seventh time this year to put runners at first and second. Robinson then hit a single to left to load the bases. Peiler then stepped to the plate and ripped a double into the leftfield corner, driving in both Warwick and Tausaga to take a 3-1 lead. Peiler drove in all three of Hawai`i's runs in the game.

In the bottom of the eighth, Robinson retired the UCLA offense in order, with a ground out to short, a fly ball to center, and another ground out to short to end the game.

Robinson's eight innings thrown today was the longest appearance of her career. She gave up one run on four hits with two walks, and four strike outs. She also was one of five Rainbow Wahine to get two hits in the game. She went 2-for-4, with her two hits coming in Hawai`i's two scoring rallies.

UCLA's Megan Langenfeld, the reigning USA Softball National Player of the Week, gave up three runs on 11 hits with a walk and six strikeouts.

The win marked the first time since 1994 that UH defeated perennial power, UCLA. That season, Brooke Wilkins got the 1-0 win on Feb. 27. The last time Hawai`i was able to win at UCLA was 1986, the second year of the program. The Alika Thompson led team, downed the Bruins, 4-3. Overall, Hawai`i now has a 4-13 record against the Bruins. UCLA's storied program has won 10 national championships and has advanced to the College World Series 23 times.

Hawai`i will face Loyola Marymount in the Regional Championship game in the double elimination tournament. Start time for the game on Sunday is 2:30 pm PST and can be viewed on ESPNU or heard live on KKEA 1420.

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