HONOLULU - The No. 17 University of Hawai`i softball team (25-11, WAC 1-1) shut down New Mexico State, 4-0 in the second game of a double header tonight at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. Senior pitcher Kate Robinson (10-3, 1-1) and the 'Bows bounced back after losing their Western Athletic Conference opener earlier, by blanking the Aggies in the night cap with a two-hit shut-out.

For Robinson, it was her fifth shut-out and ninth complete game of the season. She walked just one batter, struck out seven and faced just 25 batters in the game.

The Aggies' Samantha Dillard (2-6) took the loss in her first complete game of the year. She gave up four runs on nine hits while walking none and striking out five.

Hawai`i was able to score three runs in the second. Robinson started things off with a single up the middle. Clare Warwick followed with a bunt single pushed between the pitcher and first base. Then Brandi Peiler laid down another bunt, and beat it out for a single, but on the play, a wild throw by the NMSU first baseman sailed past the covering second baseman, allowing Robinson to score the game's first run. A hit up the middle by Valana Manuma drove in Warwick from third. Later, with two outs and the bases loaded, Kaulana Gould drove in Manuma from third with a fielder's choice to second base.

In the bottom of the sixth, UH tacked on one more run. Manuma opened the inning with a double to left-centerfield. Two outs later, Tanisha Milca drove Manuma in from third to push the 'Bows lead to 4-0.

Manuma led UH, going 2-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored, a double, and an RBI.

The two teams will square off again tomorrow night with the rubber game of the three-game series at 5:00 pm.

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