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HONOLULU—The University of Hawai'i softball team (17-10, 0-0 Big West) fell to Western Illinois, 3-2 to open the Hawai'i Pacific Health Rainbow Wahine Classic. Hawai'i rallied to score one run and load the bases in the seventh, but fell short to the Leathernecks.
 
The Leathernecks posted a run in each of the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. In the fourth, Tierney Bottino led off with a double to left. Holly Hoelting was then plunked to put runners at first and second. Nina Maggio then lifted a flyball to center. Ulu Matagiese made the catch and fired to third, but Bottino reached third easily. The trail runner at first got into a run-down and was tagged out 8-5-4-3 but that allowed Bottino to score from third.
 
In the fifth, Sammy Marshall scored from third on an RBI single to left by Kelsey Marlow and in the sixth, an RBI single to center by Karissa Kouchis drove in Hoelting from third for what proved to be the winning run.
 
Hawai'i got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth. Kayla Wartner got a single up the middle. Two batters later, pinch hitter Jordan Burton struck out swinging but the throw to get her at first bounced off her back. The errant throw allowed Wartner to hustle into third. Wartner then scored on a wild pitch to cut their deficit to 3-1.
 
In the seventh, Hawai'i mounted one last two-out rally. Rachel Lack was beaned to start things off. She moved to second on a walk to Leisha Li'ili'i. Kristina Akiona then hit a grounder to second which went right through the second baseman into rightfield on a fielding error. The error allowed Lack to score from second. But Western Illinois' pitcher, Kacyee Hart then got the final out on a swinging strike out with the tying run on second base.
 
Kanani Aina Cabrales (8-7) took the loss, throwing 4-1/3 innings. She allowed two runs on seven hits with a walk and a strike out. Heather Morales threw the final 2-2/3 innings, allowing one run on one hit with two walks and a strike out.
 
The Leathernecks' Hart fired a complete game to improve her record to 3-2. She allowed two runs on four hits with a walk and seven strike outs.
 
The Rainbow Wahine continue the Rainbow Wahine Classic on Thursday, March 12 at 6:00 pm against Virginia Tech (17-3, 0-0 ACC).