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HONOLULU-The University of Hawai'i softball team (23-17, 4-3 Big West) fell in the series opener to Long Beach State, 4-2 on Friday night at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. The 49ers improved to 24-16 overall and 4-3 in conference. Both Keiki Carlos and Rachel Lack launched solo home runs in the game, but it was not enough to overcome their deficit. UH's Kanani Aina Cabrales suffered the loss, falling to 12-11 overall and 3-2 in Big West games.

Aina Cabrales fired all seven innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on nine hits with no walks and three strike outs. After a rough fourth inning, Aina Cabrales settled down and did not give up another run in the last three innings while retiring the last seven straight batters.

The 49ers jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Leilani Tupua-Tautalatasi got things started with a single to left. After a pop-out to third, Lauren Lombardi hit a single to third. On the play, the throw to first was wide and bounced off the first baseline fence which allowed Tupua-Tautalatasi to go to third. Then the throw home from right ricocheted off the first base umpire which allowed the first run of the game.

In the bottom of the third UH tied the game at 1-1 when Carlos blasted her sixth home run of the season to left field. It marked her 20th home run of the junior's career.

But in the top of the fourth, Long Beach State started the inning with three straight hits-including an RBI-double by Summer Pohl that drove in Darian Tautalafua from second. After a flyout to right, LT Torres hit a single to the left-centerfield gap to drive in two more runs and extend the 49er lead to 4-2.

Hawai'i got one run back in the bottom of the fourth on Lack's solo shot high over the leftfield fence. It was Lacks sixth home run of the season and her third in conference play. The 'Bows trailed 4-2 after four complete innings.

But that's how the score would end. Long Beach State's Christina Clermont raised her record to 10-6 overall and remained perfect in conference with a 4-0 record. She gave up two runs on three hits with three walks and nine strike outs.

The two teams will square off in their series ending doubleheader on Saturday, April 11 with the first pitch slated for 4:00 p.m. It is "Power in Pink" day and the Rainbow Wahine will be wearing special pink Under Armour jerseys for breast cancer awareness.