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HONOLULU—The University of Hawai'i softball team (10-8, 0-0 Big West) scored six runs in the bottom of the fifth to overcome a five run deficit. Hawai'i went on to hold off Pacific, 8-7 on the second day of the Jack in the Box Spring Fling Tournament. Loie Kesterson earned the complete game win and Keiki Carlos led UH at the plate going 2-for-4 with a double.
 
Once again, the Rainbow Wahine had a rocky start, giving up five runs on a two-out rally in the top of the first inning. The Tigers scored on back-to-back RBI singles by Megan Foglesong and Bailey O'Mara and a two-RBI triple by Alex Steinmehl. Pacific capped their scoring with another RBI single by Cassidy Gustafson for the early 5-0 lead.
 
Pacific added another run in the top of the second with an RBI-triple by Nicole Zapotoczny to go up 6-0.
 
But in the bottom of the frame, UH was able to get one run back. The 'Bows loaded the bases on a double ripped down the first base line by Leisha Li'ili'i and back-to-back walks to Sharla Kliebenstein and Alyssa Villalpando. Jazmine Zamora then lifted a sacrifice fly to centerfield to score pinch runner Jori Jasper for UH's first run of the game.
 
Hawai'i loaded the bases again in the bottom of the third with one out. Pinch hitter Kristina Akiona started things off with a sharp single to leftfield and was followed by Keiki Carlos who drilled a single down the left field line to put runners at first and second. Li'ili'i then hit a grounder to second, but the throw to the shortstop covering second was offline allowing Carlos to slide in safely. Akiona then scored on a wild pitch to cut their deficit to 6-2 after three innings.
 
Pacific extended their lead to 7-2 on a squeeze play executed by Steinmehl that pushed Foglesong—who had hit a triple earlier in the inning—across the plate.
 
Then Hawai'i mounted their furious comeback in the bottom of the fifth. Lindsey Willmon started things off with a single to left and was followed by Akiona who hit a single to second. Carlos then roped a double to the left-center gap to drive in Willmon. Akiona scored on a failed pick-off attempt for the second run. Hawai'i then drew a pair of walks by Li'ili'i and Kliebenstein before Pacific brought in Dani Bonnet in relief of starter Tori Shepard. Nakao then drove in Carlos with a sacrifice fly to right. Dori Ann Sugai then got her first collegiate hit with an RBI double that scored Li'ili'i. Ulu Matagiese followed with a bases-clearing double to right-center that scored both Kliebenstein and Sugai for what proved to be the winning run.
 
Pacific was able to get two runners on base in both the sixth and seventh inning, but Kesterson and the defense held on for the win.
 
Kesterson improved to 4-2 on the season. She threw all seven innings, allowing seven runs on 11 hits with two walks and four strike outs.
 
Pacific's Shepard threw the first four-plus innings, allowing seven runs on six hits with four walks and three strike outs. Bonnet threw the final two innings, giving up one run on two hits with a walk.
 
Hawai'i continues the Spring Fling tourney on Friday, facing California for the second time in the tournament at 6:00 p.m.