Wahine eliminated at WAC tournament

Conference tournament title to their regular-season crown ended abruptly yesterday in Fresno, Calif.

Brittany Puzey hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth inning to give Nevada (28-30) a 3-1 victory in the elimination game.

Wahine pitcher Justine Smethurst walked Kristin Stith to start the eighth and Puzey followed with her shot over the left-field wall.

Earlier in the day, Fresno State sent UH into the loser's bracket with a 9-3 win.

The Wahine had runners at first and second with one out in the seventh and loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth, but could not score against Nevada's Jordan McPherson, who improved to 17-15.

In the earlier semifinal game against the host Bulldogs, UH's Kate Robinson suffered her first loss of the season. The Bulldogs (45-16) scored five earned runs off Robinson in 2 2/3 innings en route to their victory.

Robin Mackin (34-9) pitched a complete game for FSU, allowing the Wahine eight hits, three by Alana Power.

The Wahine (46-11) now must wait to see if they receive an at-large invitation to the NCAA tournament.