Kate Robinson produced a complete game in every sense of the phrase, powering the Hawai'i softball team to a 9-0 knockout of Nevada last night.

The Western Athletic Conference opener for both teams was mercifully abbreviated when Robinson slammed a two-run, strut-off homer with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning. The WAC employs an eight-run mercy rule.

"That was a blast," UH coach Bob Coolen said of Robinson's tower drive over the left-field wall. "She caught the whole thing."

It was Robinson's second homer of the game.

She also allowed three hits in six innings, striking out nine, to improve to 8-0.

The teams meet tonight in a doubleheader beginning at 6.

Justine Smethurst is considered the Rainbow Wahine's ace, and usually opens each series. But Robinson pitched a shutout against Nevada in last week's tournament, and Coolen was seeking a hana-hou performance.

"We have a great demeanor when she's on the mound," Coolen said. "She has a great demeanor when she's out on the mound. I thought, 'Single game. I'm going with Kate.' "

Robinson and her designated catcher, Katie Grimes, were notified a few minutes before the lineups were submitted.

"That's enough time," Grimes said. "(Robinson is) always so consistent."

Grimes created this menu: risers, dropballs, curves and screwballs.

In the gusty conditions, Coolen theorized, Robinson's breaking pitches were wind-aided.

"When the wind blew straight at her, her pitches were moving," Coolen said. "Her pitches have a good spin. They move even more with the wind."

Robinson said: "I don't research the science. I just throw it."

Robinson dodged trouble in the fourth after Tyler Schafer opened with a single. Left-handed Kym Silagyi then slapped a hit to right. But the umpire ruled that Silagyi had stepped out of the batter's box before making contact, an automatic out. The ruling minimized the impact of Brittany Puzey's ensuing base hit.

The Rainbows were more fortunate in plays around the plate. They took a 1-0 lead after Alana Power doubled and went to third on Grimes' ricochet single off pitcher Katie Holverson. Power tagged up on Ritchie-Anne Titcomb's flyout to right but could not out-race Schafer's throw to the plate. Instead, Power leaped over catcher Katie Stith's attempted tag.

"I knew the throw beat me by a mile," Power said. "The only solution I had was to jump over the tag. I don't really think I can jump very well. I get that spur-of-the-moment adrenaline that just got me over the tag."

Later in the inning, after Jordan McPherson replaced Holverson, Robinson hit a two-run drive over the fence in left-center field.

"Usually when a new pitcher just comes into the game, it's good to set the momentum," Robinson said. "I wanted to get a hit off of her. She gave me a fat pitch."

In the bottom of the sixth, with Kaulana Gould on second, Robinson was prepared to write a happy ending.

"I wanted to finish the game," she said. "I was getting tired. I didn't know if I could throw another inning. It was cold out there. My arm was getting cold. She threw me a low inside pitch, and I tried to hit it hard. I guess I did."

Robinson's power surge can be traced to her training schedule in the fall (she lifted weights three times a week) and lighter bat (24 ounces).

"Right now, she's in a zone," Coolen said. "She's doing a nice job seeing the ball and hitting the ball. It's great to see that."

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.