HONOLULU - The University of Hawai`i softball team (38-19, 10-7 WAC) was eliminated from the Western Athletic Conference's tournament with a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat at the hands of No. 17 Nevada. The Wolf Pack scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh to win. It was a pitcher's duel of a game with Hawai`i's, Kate Robinson taking the loss and Nevada's Katie Holverson earning the win.

In the first inning, things looked good for Hawai`i as it posted a run to start the game. Kaulana Gould drew a one out walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. After a strike out, Robinson hit a grounder deep to short. The shortstop's only play was to third, but the flip was late and left UH runners at the corners. Clare Warwick then followed with a single to left that scored Gould from third.

But from that point on, Holverson stymied the 'Bows, retiring the next 13 batters in a row. The only other opportunity Hawai`i had to score was in the sixth. Tanisha Milca led the inning off by legging out an infield single to deep short. She moved to second on a sacrifice bunt laid down by Gould to move into scoring position. After a groundout to short, Nevada intentionally walked Robinson to put runners at first and second. Holverson then struck out Warwick to end the rally.

Hawai`i entered the bottom of the seventh with a 1-0 lead. But it was soon erased by Nevada. The Wolf Pack led off the inning with a pair of singles by Sam Bias and Kym Silagyi. A sacrifice bunt by Katie Stith put both runners into scoring position with just one out. Nevada's best pinch hitter, Michelle Beach, walked to load the bases for pinch hitter Sarah Hunt, who proceeded to drill a single right past Robinson up the middle to drive in Bias from third. Robinson then left the game and was relieved by Jessica Morton. The first batter she faced, Noelle Micka, then laced the walk-off single to right-centerfield to drive in pinch runner Kristin Stith for the winning run.

Both pitchers had already thrown complete games earlier in the day. Robinson (17-8) threw a three-hitter to defeat No. 10 Fresno State, 6-1 in the preceeding game. Against Nevada, she threw 6.1 innings, giving up the two runs on six scattered hits with a walk and three strike outs. It was the most innings that Robinson has pitched on one day in her career.

Nevada's Holverson (20-6) stifled the UH offense, firing a two-hitter and giving up just the one run in the first inning run. She walked two and struck out eight.

This marks the third straight season that Nevada has eliminated Hawai`i from the WAC tourney. The 'Bows will now have to await their fate as the NCAA tournament selection show airs this Sunday.

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