Posted at 2:32 p.m., Saturday, May 13, 2006
Nevada shuts out UH for WAC tourney softball title
Advertiser Staff
Nevada pounded out a 7-0 softball victory over the University of Hawai'i to win Saturday's best-of-three championship round of the Western Athletic Conference tournament in Fresno, Calif., and earn the league's automatic berth in the NCAA tournament.It was a surprising end for the Rainbow Wahine, who needed to win one of the final two games to earn their first NCAA berth in three seasons. The Rainbows do not expect to receive an NCAA at-large berth when the bids are announced Sunday. Fresno State, ranked No. 23 nationally and No. 1 in this double-elimination tournament, is expected to receive an at-large bid.
The Rainbows won the first game, 1-0, but lost the second, 4-2, setting up the winner-take-all third game.
The Rainbows return to Honolulu Sunday.
In the third game Saturday, Nevada's Jordan McPherson pitched a five-hitter, striking out seven and walking two.
