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LAS VEGAS, Nev.—The University of Hawai'i softball team battled but fell to No. 12/10 UCLA, 8-4 on the third day of the Wilson/DeMarini Desert Classic. Hawai'i falls to 5-4 overall while Kanani 'Aina Cabrales took the loss, dropping her record to 2-2 on Saturday night at the Eller Media Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev.
 
UH took an early, 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Kayla Wartner and Keiki Carlos started things with back-to-back singles. Leisha Li'ili'i then drew a walk to load the bases for Heather Morales who then hit a ground-out to short that allowed Wartner to score from third.
 
In the second inning, UCLA overtook UH on an RBI-double by Spaulding and an RBI single by Maurice to give the Bruins a 2-1 lead.
 
Hawai'i answered back in the top of the fourth inning. With one out, Rachel Lack drew a walk and Sarina Jaramillo pushed her to second with a single up the middle. After a strikeout, Tayana Mata drilled a triple to centerfield to drive in both Lack and Jaramillo. Lindsey Willmon kept things going with an RBI single to the right-centerfield gap to drive in Mata to give the 'Bows a 4-2 lead after three-and-a-half innings.
 
But UCLA then see-sawed back into the lead, posting four runs in the fifth and another two in the sixth. In the fifth, the Bruins got four hits in the frame—including RBI singles by Maurice and Sataraka. In the sixth, Carda and Maurice both drove in one run apiece with singles to leftfield.
 
Hawai'i's offense had opportunities, getting runners aboard in all but two innings. Wartner and Carlos both went 2-for-4 at the plate to lead UH.
 
Cabrales gave up eight runs on 13 hits with three walks and five strike outs.
 
UCLA's Ta'amilo threw the first 3.2 innings but did not figure in the decision. She gave up four runs on six hits with four walks and two strike outs. Carda earned the win (4-1) throwing the final 3.1 innings giving up just one hit with two walks and four strike outs.
 
The Rainbow Wahine will complete their play in the Desert Classic on Sunday with a pair of games against Seattle at 11:15 am and Portland State at 1:30 pm.