HONOLULU - The University of Hawai'i lost 6-2 this afternoon to Southern Illinois in the 4th Kipa Aloha Malihini Tournament at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. The loss drops the Rainbow Wahine into an elimination game with Siena College later today at 4 p.m.

SIU wasted no time getting on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning as Lindsey Bonnell drew one-out walk, stole second, and came home on the RBI single to center by Katie Jordan.

UH battled back in the fourth inning tacking on two runs off SIU starter Amy Harre (5-1). Noelle Izumi got aboard on a Baltimore chop to third, moved to third when SIU third baseman Haley Viefhaus threw away April Crowell's sacrifice bunt. Tara Harbert entered the game as a pinch-runner at first base for Crowell and promptly stole second. Tyleen Tausaga then drove a pitch into the left center alley to score the pair of runners.

SIU tied the game in the fifth as Samantha Carter led off with a single, advanced to second on a fielding error by Crowell, to third on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on Jen Doehring's sacrifice fly to center.

The Salukis took command of the game in the sixth scoring three times. Haley Viefhaus got on first with a single and scored when Crowell fielded Amanda Clifton's grounder and threw it to the right center field wall trying to force Viefhaus at second. Katie Louis then cranked a two-run homer to deep center that chased UH starter Melissa Coogan (4-8) after 5.1 innings. Paula Blanning finished the final 1.2 innings allowing one more run.

Hawaii falls to 12-12 on the year and 3-2 in the tourney while Southern Illinois improves to 12-4 overall and 3-2. The double-elimination tournament wraps up on Sunday beginning at 10 a.m.