Box Score

HONOLULU - The University of Hawai`i softball team (36-17, 10-7 WAC) defeated Utah State, 5-0, on the final day of the regular season. Seniors Kate Robinson (16-6) and Jessica Morton combined on a three-hit shut out. The 'Bows launched three home runs in game including Robinson's 40th in her career on Senior Day at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. Aggies' pitcher Lindsey Benson (13-20) took the loss.

In the bottom of the first, Tanisha Milca started things off by beating out a single to short. She moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kaulana Gould. After a fly out to right, Robinson drilled a 1-1 pitch just over the leftfield fence. It was her 17th home run this season. On the very next pitch, Clare Warwick followed by hitting back-to-back home runs with another shot over the left-centerfield fence pushing Hawai`i's lead after one inning to 3-0. It marked the fourth time this season that the 'Bows have cranked back-to-back homers.

In the second inning, sophomore catcher, Katie Grimes added another home run off another 1-1 count over the leftfield fence. Grimes' third home run of the year extended Hawai`i's lead to 4-0.

Gould started the fifth inning with a double over the centerfielder. Next, Brandi Peiler got a soft line drive single in front of the rightfielder to put runners at the corners. After a strike out, Warwick hit a deep foul, sacrifice fly ball to leftfield. On the catch, Gould tagged and scored easily from third.

Robinson threw the first 6.2 innings, shutting down the Utah State offense to just three hits while walking none and striking out seven. Fellow senior, Morton, came in and struck out the final batter of the game on Senior Day.

Utah State's Benson threw 3.0 innings, giving up four runs on five hits with a walk and a strike out. Stacey Ellingsworth closed the game, giving up one run on three hits and three strike outs in the final 3.0 innings.

It was the final regular season home game for five stellar seniors who have given much to the program. Seniors Kaulana Gould (Ewa Beach, O'ahu/Kamehameha Schools), Valana Manuma (Ewa Beach, O'ahu/Kapolei HS), Jessica Morton (Grants Pass, Ore./Grants Pass HS), Brandi Peiler (Mililani, O'ahu/Kamehameha Schools), and Kate Robinson (Honolulu, O'ahu/Kamehameha Schools) will now lead the Rainbow Wahine into the WAC tournament, which runs next week, from May 7-10 and is hosted for the first time by Hawai`i.