Box Score

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. - The No. 14 University of Hawai`i softball team (6-1) defeated Florida Atlantic, 6-0, on a chilly night in their opening game of the Palm Springs Classic at Yankee Field. Kate Robinson (3-1) threw a five-hit shut-out and also went 3-for-4 at the plate with a home run to help lead the 'Bows over the Owls.

Hawai`i scored started the game of quickly and efficiently. Tanisha Milca led the game off with a high chopper that bounced over the third baseman into leftfield. Clare Warwick followed with a hard-hit single up the middle. Kaulana Gould then laid down a sacrifice bunt, pushing both runners into scoring position. Robinson then hit a single to left-centerfield, scoring both runners, and giving UH a fast 2-0 lead.

In the second, the 'Bows added to their lead. Audrey Andrade drove a double to right-centerfield to start the inning off. After a pop-up to third, Richie-Anne Titcomb drew a walk. After a fly-out to left, Warwick then drilled a double to left-center to drive home both Andrade and Titcomb, pushing Hawai`i's lead to 4-0.

In the top of the fifth, Robinson crushed a pitch high over the leftfield fence. Then in the top of the sixth, with two outs, Titcomb hit her solo home run over the leftfield fence to complete the Hawai`i scoring.

The Owls, who had defeated No. 6 LSU earlier in the day, was led offensively by Becky Brandies, who was 2-for-3 on the game, and Melissa Moore who had a double in three at-bats. On the mound for FAU was Amber Barton who gave up six runs on 10 hits with three walks and two strike outs.

Hawai`i will play a double header tomorrow, Fri., Feb. 21. The Rainbow Wahine will face Michigan State at 3:30 pm and No. 11 UCLA at 8:00 pm.