Box Score

HONOLULU - Senior Kate Robinson lifted the No. 17/21 University of Hawai`i softball team (26-11, 2-1 WAC) to a 1-0 conference win over New Mexico State tonight at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. Robinson (11-3, 2-0) fired a four-hit shut-out with no walks and six strike outs. She also went 2-for-4 at the plate and drove in the winning run with a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh with the bases loaded.

It was a pitcher's duel between Robinson and NMSU's Kim Watson (13-13, 1-1) who also gave a complete game effort in the loss. Watson gave up nine hits with a pair of walks and four strike outs. Although UH was able to get on base with hits, Watson was able to get out of jams to hold UH scoreless through the first six innings. Hawai`i was able to get at least two runners on base each of the last six innings. But Watson was able to squash rally after rally, stranding a total of 12 UH runners on base, until the bottom of the seventh inning.

In the bottom of the seventh, Milca led the inning off with a sharp hit off the pitcher. Kaulana Gould then put a sacrifice bunt down, but the third baseman fielded it and went for Milca, the lead runner, at second. The shortstop's foot wasn't on the bag, so that left runners at first and second. Next, Melissa Gonzalez laid down a sac bunt to third, this time the throw was wide, pulling the covering second baseman at first off the bag to load the bases for the clean-up hitter, Robinson. Robinson then got a hit that richocheted off Watson on the mound for a single to drive in Milca from third to win the game, 1-0.

The win gives Hawai`i the series 2-1, after splitting yesterday's doubleheader with the Aggies. It was the Western Athletic Conference opener for both teams. For Robinson, it was her second shut-out of the Aggies in two days. Yesterday, she led UH to a 4-0 win over NMSU with a two-hitter. It was Robinson's 10th complete game and fifth shut-out of the season.

Four Rainbow Wahine had two hits a piece. Milca was 2-for-3; Robinson 2-for-4; Clare Warwick 2-for-3; and Brandi Peiler went 2-for-2. Audrey Andrade had the only UH extra base hit, a double in the third inning.

The 'Bows (26-11, WAC 2-1) will now leave tomorrow for their farthest roadtrip of the season, as they play Louisiana Tech this weekend in Ruston, La. The two teams open with a doubleheader on Saturday, March 29 starting at 1:00 pm then close with the series finale on Sunday, March. 30 with a single game at 1:00 pm.