TUCSON, ARIZ. - The University of Hawai`i softball team exploded for seven runs in the first three innings and cruised to a 7-3 victory in the UofA Hillenbrand Invitational in Tucson, Ariz.

The Purple Aces (10-9) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first on a 2-run single by Bridget Broerman.

But the lead was short-lived as Hawai`i (10-9)came back with three runs in the bottom of the first as Natalie Gonzales led off the inning with a double to right, advanced to third on Stacie Hirano's single, and both runners came home on Stacey Porter's 3-run home run.

UH added a single run in the second when Jennifer Tandarich tripled with one out and scored when Evansville third baseman booted Marie Jackson's ground ball.

The Rainbow Wahine broke the game open in the third scoring three times highlighted by April Crowell's 2-run single to left to drive home both Trisha Ramos and Kate Judd.

Evansville added their final run in the sixth as Broerman reached second on a two-base throwing error by Ramos and scored on an error by Judd at shortstop.