Boxscore

FRESNO, Calif. ? Hawaii?s Justine Smethurst pitched a five inning complete game shutout to defeat Louisiana Tech 8-0 Thursday afternoon at Bulldog Diamond in game one of the Western Athletic Conference tournament.

Smethurst (14-10) picked up 11 strike outs in the victory, tying her career high, while Hawaii (28-20) produced eight runs on 11 hits.

Tech (18-30) fell behind early in the game as the Rainbow Wahine jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Hawaii then scored four more runs in the second and one in the bottom of the fifth to finish the game off after the 8-run rule.

Head coach Sarah Dawson said attitude was the key in the performance.

?We have to be focused every time, and we weren?t,? she said. ?We have to have the attitude that we are going to go out there, be disciplined in all aspects of our game and do something. It takes that type of mindset to be successful.?

Krissi Oliver (11-13) was credited with the loss after 1.0 inning of work allowing 7 runs on six hits. Oliver was relieved by Kristin Rupp ? 1.1 innings of action allowing zero runs on two hits ? , who was soon relieved by Lesley Aycock ? 1.2 innings, one run on three hits.

?We have to be determined to win a game,? Dawson said. ?We have to hit the ball and play defense, and our pitching has to be there. We have to be 100 percent better tomorrow.?

The Techsters will play at 2:30 p.m. Friday against the loser of Nevada/New Mexico State vs. No.1 Fresno State.