Danielle Lawrie throws perfect game for Washington softball

In the inaugural night game at Husky Softball Stadium, Danielle Lawrie was, as usual, lights-out for Washington.

Lawrie, the reigning national player of the year, tossed her third career perfect game Thursday night, striking out 14 as the top-ranked Huskies defeated Miami (Ohio) 3-0 in front of 854 in the opener of the four-day Husky Classic.

"It's a win. That's pretty much how I look at it," Lawrie said. "Yeah, it was a perfect game. Hats off. I'm happy. But we got a 'W' up there, and that's the important thing."

The win lifted the Huskies to 18-1 and boosted Lawrie's record to 13-0 with a 1.07 earned-run average. Twice she struck out the side and at one point fanned six straight hitters. She has struck out 147 and walked just seven in 85 innings this season.

"I think it's important to her that she strikes everyone out or that she throws the best pitch every time," said Miami coach Kelly Kovach Schoenly. "That's a great quality to have in a pitcher."

Lawrie, who threw a perfect game against Auburn in the first game of the season, also recorded a five-inning perfect game in 2007.

Lawrie's efficiency impressed UW coach Heather Tarr: "Just 62 pitches in seven innings," Tarr said.

Lawrie's eyes popped when she heard that total.

"I didn't think that was possible," she said. "That makes me feel good for this weekend. No one likes throwing 120 or 130 pitches."

The Huskies managed just six hits off Miami's Jessica Simpson. Kimi Pohlman tripled in the first and scored on a wild pitch. Washington only got one runner to second base the next four innings.

Jenn Salling slugged a one-out home run, her fourth, to center in the sixth. Lawrie then walked, and pinch runner Maggie Wagner scored on Shawna Wright's second single of the game. She and Morgan Stuart each had two hits for the Huskies.

Tarr figured her players might have struggled a bit with home-opener jitters.

"We were probably a little too excited at times, a little too amped up," she said. "We forgot to play the game a little bit."

Note

• The Huskies play Miami at 6 p.m. Friday. On Saturday, UW faces Portland State (6-11) at 3:30 p.m. and Seattle University (1-13) at 6 p.m. Washington and Seattle U. play at 1 p.m. Sunday. Seattle U. plays Miami at 1 p.m. Saturday and Portland State at 10:30 a.m. Sunday.