Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
Photo Gallery (Photos Courtesy of Andrew Lee)

HONOLULU—The University of Hawai`i softball team split Tuesday night's doubleheader against Columbia at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. The Rainbow Wahine launched three home runs to defeat the Lions, 5-1 in the opener. But in the nightcap, UH hit another two roundtrippers, but their rally fell short in the eighth inning as Columbia downed the 'Bows, 7-6. Kanani Aina Cabrales pitched a total of 13.2 innings on the night—earning the complete game victory with a career-high 13 strike outs then appeared in relief, firing the final 6.2 innings in the loss.
 
Hawai`i 5, Columbia 1
Box Score (html)
 
Aina Cabrales followed her solid performance in her last appearance against Virginia Tech with another gem. She fired her seventh complete game of the season. Aina Cabrales did not walk a batter while scattering five hits and striking out a baker's dozen. She faced just 26 batters in the game.
 
Heather Morales got things started with a two-run blast to left field to give UH an early 2-0 lead. It was Morales' fifth home run of the season and her career.
 
In the third inning, Aina Cabrales helped herself out by launching her first home run as a Rainbow Wahine. It was also her first hit wearing a Rainbow Wahine uniform. The blast gave the 'Bows a 3-0 lead.
 
Hawai`i added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth on Kayla Wartner's two-run homer to centerfield. It was Wartner's team leading eighth home run of the season.
 
Wu also threw a complete game in the loss. She gave up five runs on seven hits with a strike out.
 
 
Columbia 7, Hawai`i 6 (8 innings)
Box Score (html)
 
Columbia took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the second on an RBI single by Wu and an RBI double by Jackie Li and a two-run double by Alix Cook.
 
Hawai'i would knot the score at 2-2 scoring in the bottom of the third. Keiki Carlos scored from second on an RBI single by Sarina Jaramillo. Later, with the bases loaded, Leisha Li'ili'i was walked which allowed Wartner to tie the game.
 
The Lions would answer right back in the top of the fourth, posting a pair of runs to go ahead 4-2. Mackensy Lakian drove in the first run with an RBI-double to the rightfield fence which scored Wu from second. Later, Alix Cook struck again, driving in  Lakian from second.
 
The 'Bows would get one run back in the sixth on Jaramillo's second RBI hit of the game. She drove in Aina Cabrales who had walked earlier in the inning.
 
Hawai`i tied the game at 4-4 in the seventh inning as Leisha Li'ili'i led the frame off with a rocket shot over the right-centerfield fence. It was her sixth home run of the season and her 44<sup>th</sup> of her career—which ties her with Kate Robinson for No. 3 on the career home run record list.
 
The Lions, however, fought back in the eighth inning, posting three runs to take a 7-4 lead. Wu drove in the first run with a double ripped down the leftfield line. Later, Wu scored on a wild pitch. Kayla Shimoda drove in what proved to be the game winner with a single to left which drove in Lakian from third.
 
The Rainbow Wahine would not go down easy though. With the international tie-breaker in place, Keiki Carlos led off the bottom of the eight with a two-run bomb to left-centerfield. The home run drove in the runner at second, Kiani Wong. But Columbia would settle down to retire the next three batters in order to seal the win.
 
Columbia's Tessa Kroll earned her first win of the season, improving her record to 1-4. She threw all eight innings, allowing six runs on 12 hits with four walks and five strike outs.
 
Brittany Hitchcock got the start, but lasted just 1-1/3 innings. She gave up two runs on four hits with a walk and two strike outs. Aina Cabrales threw the final 6-2/3 innings, allowing five runs on seven hits with two walks and two strike outs.
 
Hawai`i is now finished with its non-conference schedule. The 'Bows have a 10-day break before they open Big West Conference play with a three-game series against UC Riverside beginning on Mar. 27 with a single game at 6:00 p.m. The two teams will square off in a doubleheader on the following day, Mar. 28 at 4:00 p.m.