HONOLULU - The Rainbow Wahine softball team defeated the Nevada Wolf Pack in their Western Athletic Conference (WAC) opener, 5-4, Monday night at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. It was a battle from the beginning, with six lead changes throughout the game. Melissa Coogan picked up the win, and Paula Blanning got her second career save.

Nevada jumped out in front early, scoring in the top of the first. Jiliane Hartfiel reached on a fielder's choice. A two-out base hit from Brittany Lorenzen pushed Hartfiel to third, and a basehit up the middle scored Hartfiel.

Hawai`i responded in the bottom of the first. Tracie Uchima reached on an error by the shortstop. A sacrifice bunt by Kaulana Gould moved her to second, and a passed ball pushed her to third. Denise Dahlberg then hit a sacrifice fly to rightfield to score Uchima.

The Wolf Pack answered back in the top of the second. Lindsey Hall drove a shot over the centerfield fence to give Nevada the lead, 2-1.

In the fifth inning, Dahlberg led the inning off with a single to centerfield. Tyleen Tausaga then cranked a home run deep over the centerfield fence.

But the Wolf Pack scored two unearned runs in the top of the sixth to reclaim the lead. Kari Stockstill led the inning off, reaching on an error and stole second. Coogan then struck out Hall swinging, and struck out the next batter Kristin Stith, but a wild pitch on her third-strike-swing allowed Stith to reach first. Kristi Yoshizawa then threw out Kaycee Wilcks at first, moving the runners to second and third. Cindy Elkins then hit a ball right through Yoshizawa, scoring Stockstill and Stith.

Hawai`i answered again, scoring two in the bottom of the sixth. The Rainbow Wahine loaded the bases with no outs. Nevada got the lead runner out on a ground ball to the third baseman who cut down Jennifer Hackett, who was pinch running for Tausaga who had led off the inning with a double, at the plate. Kate Robinson came in as a pinch hitter, but before she could put the ball in play, Nevada's pitcher threw a wild pitch that scored Ruff from third. Robinson then hit a sacrifice fly ball to left, scoring Izumi, making the score tilt back in favor of UH, 5-4.

But the Wolf Pack wasn't done. They came out battling in the seventh, loading the bases on a base hit and two walks. Paula Blanning came in relief of Coogan who threw 6.1 innings. Blanning, working with a full-base situation, got Stith on a weak line drive back to the mound. And Blanning ended the game forcing a ground ball back to herself for the final out of the inning.

On the night, Coogan gave up nine hits, four walks and struck out four. For the Wolf Pack, Rainwater went the complete game, giving up five runs on eight hits, walking one and striking out none.

Game statistics