Brandi Peiler hit a three-run home run in the fourth inning and Justine Smethurst struck out 10 and gave up just two hits as the University of Hawai'i softball team blew past Louisiana Tech, 5-1, last night at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

With the win, the Wahine improve to 31-7 overall, 4-0 in Western Athletic Conference play.

The Lady Techsters fell to 16-15, 0-1. Krissi Oliver (11-11), who gave up 11 hits in six innings, was credited with the loss.

With solid pitching and dangerous hitters up and down the lineup, Hawai'i has won 16 of 18 games over the past three weeks.

"It's the whole unfinished business thing," Peiler said. "We really want to win the WAC this year. Last year we came up short, but now we know what to expect and what we're capable of, so it's something to strive for."

With both teams scoreless in the bottom of the fourth, Tyleen Tausaga and Kate Robinson both ripped line singles to left field, setting up Peiler's monster hit over left-center field.

For Peiler, who had been struggling at the plate over the past couple of weeks, the game-deciding hit brought sweet relief.

"I hadn't been seeing the ball very well and I was taking a lot of pitches," Peiler said. "My teammates and coaches have been encouraging me and telling me that it's alright. Tonight, I tried to have a different mindset, just seeing more and not pressing."

With two outs in the sixth and runners on first and second, Richie-Anne Titcomb hit a single down the middle to score Valana Manuma. After another single by Claire Warwick loaded the bases, Kaulana Gould hit a grounder to right center to score Kathryn Grimes.

Smethurst, who had been dominant all night, notched her ninth and 10th strikeouts of the game in the top of the seventh but gave up a solo home run to the Lady Techsters' Kylie Bassett on the potential last out.

"It hurt," Smethurst said, shaking her head. "It was irritating. But the pitch was pretty high and (Bassett) was free-swinging because they had nothing to lose. Luckily it didn't hurt us."

Smethurst got catcher Regan Clark to pop out on the next at-bat to end the game, improving her overall record this season to 12-5.

"It's been a couple of weeks since I've felt comfortable on the mound and just really pitch my game, but I was really able to bring it together tonight, Smethurst said. "I just felt really comfortable and in the zone, and me and (catcher Grimes) worked really well together. The communication was great."

Despite the win, UH head coach Bob Coolen said he was concerned about his team's slow start in the game, which he attributed to the couple of days off the Wahine had since their sweep of Nevada.

Prior to the Nevada series, the Wahine had hosted three March tournaments, playing 20 games in the first 17 days of the month.

"Once you start playing, you want to play all the time," he said. "A little down time and you're going to be a little slow and your bat isn't going to be as quick. We just need to make sure we bust out early and often so we put the pressure on (the other team) and keep the edge the whole game."

Reach Michael Tsai at mtsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.