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HENDERSON, Nev.—The No. 20/23 University of Hawai'i softball team upset No. 7/9 Oregon, 6-5 on the third day of the Easton Desert Classic at the Stephanie Lynn Craig Softball Complex on Saturday afternoon. Kaia Parnaby held the Ducks off for her fifth win of the season with a complete game victory.
 
The 'Bows fell behind early, giving up four runs in the top of the first inning. After a swinging strike out, Janie Takeda started things off with a single to left and was followed by Kaylan Howard who hit a two-run home run over the left-centerfield fence. Kailee Cuico got a hit to right field and Koral Costa reached first safely on a beaned ball. Janelle Lindvall then hit into a fielder's choice from 6-5 to erase Cuico at third. But Alexa Peterseon then hit a double to rightfield to drive in both Costa and Lindvall for the early 4-0 lead.
 
In the bottom of the second, UH battled their way back into the game, cutting their deficit to 3-4. Jazmine Zamora got things rolling with a one-out single that cut through the rightside of the infield. A groundout to third moved Zamora to second. Brynne Buchanan then got a hit to short, but an errant throw by the shortstop allowed Zamora to cross the plate for UH's first run. Kelly Majam then launched her second home run of the season and the tournament to centerfield. It marked her 56th of her career adding to her UH career record.
 
Hawai'i knotted the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the third on back-to-back doubles by Jessica Iwata and Leisha Li`ili`i. Iwata's was a shot to rightfield and Li`ili`i's was an opposite-field liner that flew down the leftfield line to score Iwata.
 
The Rainbow Wahine then scored the go-ahead runs in the fifth inning. With one out already, Iwata got her second hit of the day with a single to right-centerfield. Li`ili`i followed with a single to left. Sharla Kliebenstein then came to the plate and hit a grounder between short and third, Oregon misplayed it which allowed Iwata to race around to score from second and Li`ili`i hustled into third. Zamora then came through in the clutch with a single driven through the leftside of the infield to drive in Li`ili`i for what proved to be the winning run. UH led after five innings, 6-4.
 
The Ducks, however, would not go down easy. In the top of the seventh, leadoff hitter Courtney Ceo reached on a single to third. Takeda flew out to left, but on the next play, Howard hit a single to left and a fielding error allowed Ceo to score all the way from first. Then, with Cuico up to bat and Howard on second, Cuico hit a line drive caught by Zamora at second who then flipped to Iwata at short to double off the runner at second to win the game.
 
Parnaby picked up her fifth complete game win of the season, giving up five runs on 10 hits with three strike outs and no walks.
 
Oregon's Jessica Moore suffered the loss, dropping her record to 4-2 on the year. She gave up six runs on nine hits with a walk and five strike outs. Cheridan Hawkins closed for the Ducks, striking out all three batters she faced in the bottom of the sixth.
 
Four UH players racked up multiple hits in the game. Majam went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI; Iwata was 2-for-2 with two runs scored; Li`ili`i wne t2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI; and Zamora also went 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI.
 
Oregon was led by Takeda who was 3-for-4 with a run and Peterson who was 3-for-3 with two RBI.
 
Hawai`i completes its play in the Easton Desert Classic (hosted by UNLV) on Sunday, Feb. 17. The 'Bows will face Utah Valley at 11:15 am and Nevada at 1:30 pm. Both games will be played at the Stephanie Lynn Craig Softball Complex in Henderson, Nev.