Nevada earned its first WAC Tournament title with a, 7-0, win over third-seeded Hawai'i. The Wolf Pack won two of three games today to win first the WAC Tournament since 1999. Nevada's sophomore pitcher Jordan McPherson earned the tournament MVP by not allowing an earned run in 41.0 innings pitched. McPherson only walked four batters, while striking out 34. The Wolf Pack won the tournament in only their fourth-season after the re-instatement of the program.
Third-seeded Hawai'i captured the first game of the three-game series for the 2006 WAC Tournament title. The Wolf Pack battled back to win the second game 4-2. Sophomore Jordan McPherson pitched every inning of the first two games for Nevada. The Rainbow Wahine defeated fourth-seeded Nevada, 1-0, in game one.
To reach the championship, the Wolf Pack defeated fifth-seeded New Mexico State, 1-0 to advance. Neither Hawai'i nor Nevada had lost a game in the WAC Tournament. Top-seeded Fresno State was eliminated by third-seeded Hawai'i, 6-5. The Bulldogs avoided elimination with a 9-0 five-inning win over sixth-seeded Louisiana Tech. Second-seeded San Jose State became the first team eliminated, losing to fifth-seeded New Mexico State, 5-0.
On day one of the 2006 WAC Softball Tournament, fourth seeded-Nevada upset top-seeded Fresno State, 2-1. Brittany Lorenzen drove in two runs with a single to centerfield in the sixth to give the Wolf Pack the lead. Third-seeded Hawai'i won the first game of the tournament with a 8-0 five-inning win over sixth-seeded Louisiana Tech. All-WAC freshman Justine Smethurst pitched a perfect game with 11 strikeouts. Nevada pitcher Jordan McPherson almost topped Smethurst when she threw a one-hitter with 12 strikeouts as the Wolf Pack topped New Mexico State, 2-0. In the third game of the tournament, Hawai'i won its third game in as many days with a 3-1 come-from-behind win over second-seeded San Jose State. San Jose State's Carlie Hill and Hawai'i's Tyleen Tausaga both homered.
The three-day double-elimination championship will see the top six teams battle it out to capture the WAC?™s NCAA automatic bid. Fresno State hosted the 1999 tournament and won both the 1999 regular-season and tournament titles. Fresno State and Hawai?™i are the two lone current conference schools to have participated in the last WAC Softball Championship.
2006 WAC Softball All-Tournament Team
Christina Clark, Sr., SS, Fresno State
Brittany Lorenzen, Sr., SS, Nevada
Kymberly Silagyi, Fr., 2B, Nevada
Tyleen Tausaga, Jr., 1B, Hawai?™i
Kristi Yoshizawa, Jr., C, Hawai?™i
Kaulana Gould, So., OF, Hawai?™i
Brandi Peiler, So., OF, Hawai?™i
Kristi Randall, Fr., OF, New Mexico State
Jordan McPherson, So., P, Nevada
Kate Robinson, So., DP, Hawai?™i
Robin Mackin, Fr., UT, Fresno State
MVP: Jordan McPherson, Nevada
| 2006 WAC Softball Tournament Schedule |
| Thursday, May 11 |
| Game 1-#3 Hawai'i 8, #6 Louisiana Tech 0 (5) | Gametracker | | Recap |
| Game 2-#4 Nevada 2, #5 New Mexico State 0 | Gametracker | | Recap |
| Game 3-#3 Hawai'i 3, #2 San Jose State 1 | Gametracker | | Recap |
| Game 4-#4 Nevada 2, #1 Fresno State 1 | Gametracker | | Recap |
| Friday, May 12 |
| Game 5-#5 New Mexico State 5, #2 San Jose State 0 | Gametracker | | Recap |
| Game 6-#1 Fresno State 9, #6 Louisiana Tech 0 (5) | Gametracker | | Recap |
| Game 7-#3 Hawai'i 6, #1 Fresno State 5 | Gametracker | | Recap |
| Game 8-#4 Nevada 1, #5 New Mexico State 0 | Gametracker | | Recap |
| Saturday, May 13 |
| Game 9-#3 Hawai'i 1, #4 Nevada 0 | Gametracker | | Recap |
| Game 10- #4 Nevada 4, #3 Hawai'i 2 | Gametracker | | Recap |
| Game 11- #4 Nevada 7, #3 Hawai'i 0 | Gametracker | | Recap |
|
All times Pacific
WHAT: 2006 WAC Softball Tournament
WHERE: Bulldog Diamond, Fresno, California
WHEN: Thursday-Saturday, May 11-13, 2006
TOURNAMENT BRACKET: Click here for a .pdf version of the tournament bracket.
HOST: Fresno State
CHAMPIONSHIP PROGRAM: For information on Fresno State, Hawaii and Louisiana Tech, click here. For information on Nevada, New Mexico State, San Jose State and Utah State, click here. For tournament history, click here.
CHAMPIONSHIP MANUAL: Click here for a .pdf version of the Championship Manual.