Box Score

HONOLULU - The University of Hawai`i softball team (34-17, 8-7 WAC) scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to pull away from Utah State, 5-2. Reliever Jessica Morton (6-3, 2-2 WAC) earned the win, holding the Aggies down for the final 3.2 innings. Utah State's Lindsey Benson (13-20, 2-9 WAC) took the loss in a complete game effort at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium today.

In the top of the first, the Aggies' mounted a fast rally. Emily Reilly drew a walk to start the game off. She moved to second on a single up the middle by Nicole Rupp. Kayla Dunn then hit a hard fly ball to rightfield. On the play both runners took off on contact, but Tanisha Milca made a nice catch and then doubled off Rupp who did not get back to the back in time. With a runner still at second, Aubrey Stroman then hit a single to left. Reilly was waved home around third, but UH leftfielder, Brandi Peiler picked up the shallow hit and fired home to gun down Reilly at the plate on one hop.

In the bottom of the first, Hawai`i responed by jumping out to a quick 2-0 lead. With one out, the 'Bows got three consecutive hits. Kaulana Gould started the rally with a single to centerfield then Tanisha Milca followed with a double just inside the leftfield foul line, putting runners at second and third. Kate Robinson then drove in both runners with a single to rightfield.

In the top of the third, the Aggies cut the lead in half when Mikey Price scored from third on an RBI single up the middle by Nicole Rupp.

Utah State knotted the game at 2-2 in the fifth. Emily Reilly started the inning off with a double to centerfield. She moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Rupp. She later scored on a ground ball hit by Aubrey Stroman to short after a fielding error prolonged the inning.

In the bottom of the sixth, Hawai`i erupted for three runs to pull away from the hard hitting Aggies. Robinson led the inning off with a walk. Clare Warwick then hit a single to left to put runners at first and second. After a foul pop-up to the catcher, Richie-Anne Titcomb drew another walk to load the bases. Pinch hitter, Amanda Taualii then battled at the plate with a good at-bat and came through with a single to left to drive in Robinson. Katie Grimes then drew another walk that scored Warwick and Tanisha Milca drove in the final run of the game with a single to left-centerfield to score Titcomb. The 'Bows almost scored a fourth run in the inning off a sacrifice fly by Gould, but Taualii was called for leaving the bag early on appeal.

Hawai`i's Courtney Baughman started the game and threw the first 3.1 innings, giving up one run on seven hits with a walk. Morton, who earned her sixth win of the season, closed the game, giving up one run on four hits with a pair of strike outs and no walks.

The Aggies' Benson threw 6.0 innings, giving up five runs on nine hits with three walks and two strike outs.

The win snapped a six game, conference losing streak that included sweeps at Nevada and Fresno State.

The second game of the doubleheader will start in approximately 30 minutes.