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LAS CRUCES, N.M.—The No. 16/18 University of Hawai'i softball team (28-3, 4-1 WAC) held off New Mexico State (in Saturday's doubleheader opener. Kaia Parnaby (11-1, 1-1 WAC) earned the win and Stephanie Ricketts picked up the save at the NM State Softball Complex.
 
The Aggies got on the scoreboard first, posting one run in the bottom of the second. Kelsey Dodd was hit by a pitch to start the inning and Chelsea Dohrwardt entered the game to pinch run for Dodd. Tina Cisneros then doubled down the leftfield line to move Dohrwardt to third. Malena Padilla then grounded out to second to score Dohrwardt from third for the 1-0 lead.
 
The 'Bows responded in the top of the third, leapfrogging NMSU 2-1. Kayla Wartner got things started with a single to right with one out. Tara Anguiano entered the game as a pinch runner for Wartner and moved to second on a ground out. The Aggies then walked Jessica Iwata and Leisha Li'ili'i then followed with a clutch double up the middle to score both Anguiano and Iwata, giving UH a 2-1 lead.
 
The Aggies rallied to take the lead, 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth. Tiare Jennings reached first and came all the way around to score on two errors. NMSU then had Amber Olive walk and Valerie Swedberg reached on a second throwing error allowing both runners to move into scoring position. Olive then scored on a wild pitch to take the lead. Parnaby then settled down to strike out the next batter and got the final out of the inning on a fly out to right.

Alexandra Aguirre led off the frame with a solo home run over the leftfield fence to tie the game 3-3. It was her second of the season and 21st of the senior's career. Dara Pagaduan was then plunked to reach first. Pinch hitter Jocelyn Enrique then flew out to left but on the play, Pagaduan tagged and went to second. Brynne Buchanan followed with a single up the middle to push Pagaduan to third and then with runners at the corners, Kelly Majam drove a single up the middle to drive in Pagaduan to re-take the lead, 4-3.
 
New Mexico State did not go down without a fight. In the bottom of the seventh, Olive led the inning off with an infield single to second, but was erased on the next play, a fielder's choice from shortstop to second. Shaleese Javillo then pinch ran for Swedberg at first and Brittany Clifton was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second for the Aggies. UH starter, Kaia Parnaby was then lifted for Stephanie Ricketts who was able to retire Teresa Conrad with a fly out to left. Then, with two outs and runners still at first and second, Briana Tovio-Asato singled to left, Javillo came around third to try to score, but Aguirre threw a laser to cut the runner down at the plate for the final out of the game.
 
Parnaby (11-1, 1-1 WAC) earned the win, throwing 6.1 innings allowing three runs on five hits with two walks and four strike outs. Ricketts (17-2, 3-0 WAC) picked up her first save since 2010, getting the final two outs allowing one hit. It was Ricketts second save in her career.

The final game of the three-game series will begin approximately at 2:20 pm HT.