FULLERTON, Calif. – The No. 7 Washington Huskies (12-2) run ruled the Iowa Hawkeyes (2-10) 8-0 in their opening day at the Judi Garman Classic Friday morning. The shutout was headlined by a three-run home run from Kirstyn Thomas in the in the bottom of the third.

Washington totaled for 14 hits in the game. Freshman Maggie Gallagher earned her first start at third base and went 3-for-3 with a double, two singles and two RBI's.

Five Huskies had multi-hit games. Gallagher spearheaded the effort followed by Trysten Melhart, Casey Stangel, Taylor Van Zee and Morganne Flores.

Melhart led-off with a single and stole second off a pitch to Stangel. Stangel followed up with a single up the middle, plating Melhart to put the Huskies on the board 1-0.

The second inning brought in another run for the Purple and Gold. Gallagher hit a lead-off double and advanced to third off a wild pitch. Melhart (2-for-2) singled to second, allowing Gallagher to cross home plate.

Going into the bottom of the third inning the Huskies lead, 2-0. With Taylor Van Zee on second after hitting a lead-off double and Flores on first after getting hit by a pitch, Thomas blasted the ball past the left field wall for a three-run homer. The junior extended the team's lead to 5-0.

In the fourth inning the Huskies secured their mercy rule win off four hits. Amirah Milloy stepped on the field for the first time this season as a pinch runner for Stangel. Milloy was plated off a single from Flores. Gallagher with her third hit of the day, singled and brought in pinch runner Alyssa Simons and Van Zee from second and third.

The Huskies held off the Hawkeyes in the top of the fifth to finish the game with an 8-0 shutout.

Sophomore RHP Taran Alvelo kept her perfect streak alive and improved to 8-0 after striking out the final batter to capture the win. She tossed six strikeouts in five innings and allowed only three hits.  

Continuing on their campaign at the Judi Garman Classic, the Huskies will face Indiana following the Iowa game on Friday, March 3 at 3 p.m. The team will face five total opponents in Fullerton over the weekend including, Iowa, Indiana, Baylor, Northwestern and Fresno State.