SAN JOSE, Calif. - The University of Hawai`i softball team split the first two games of a Western Athletic Conference series at San Jose State today at the SJSU Field.

Hawai`i (27-32 overall, 9-13 WAC) took the opener behind the combined pitching efforts of Melissa Coogan and Paula Blanning. Coogan (10-18) picked up the win going 4.1 innings allowing five hits and both runs. She struckout five and walked one batter before giving way to Blanning, who went the final 2.2 frames to earn her first save of the season.

UH took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when both Jennifer Hackett and Justina Kahaku reached on singles. Tara Harbert then sacrificed them up a base before Tracie Uchima knocked home Hackett on an infield single.

Denise Dahlberg drove home Kahaku with a RBI single in the fifth and scored on April Crowell's double to center off SJSU losing pitcher Carol Forbes (8-17).

The Spartans (15-32, 8-10) pulled to within a run scoring twice in their half of the fifth, but Blanning came on and got out of a one-out bases loaded situation to preserve the victory. She allowed one hit while striking out two and walking one to earn the save.

UH pounded out 13 hits in the win as Uchima and Kahaku each collected three apiece.

In Game Two, SJSU's Megan Delgado smacked a two-run triple in the sixth off UH starter Shannon Tabion (16-10) to earn the win, 2-1.

UH took a 1-0 lead in the top of the sixth off SJSU pitcher Forbes (9-17) when Dahlberg reached on an error, went to second on Crowell's single, and scored on a throwing error by the shortstop.

UH tried to mount a rally in the seventh as Harbert got aboard on a one-out single, but SJSU reliever Kelli McCollister came on to pitch to Uchima and got her on a come-backer to force Harbert at second. Forbes then re-entered and got Dahlberg to line out to end the game.

The Rainbow Wahine will complete its regular-season Saturday with a doubleheader against SJSU.