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HONOLULU-The University of Hawai'i softball team (27-19, 8-5 Big West) held off UC Santa Barbara for a 3-2 win to open the three-game Big West series. Brittany Hitchcock earned the win to improve to 14-6 overall and 5-1 in conference while Kanani Aina Cabrales came in with the bases loaded and the go-ahead run at first in the seventh to earn her third save of the year. The Gauchos fell to 15-31 overall and 2-11 in the Big West.

Hitchcock allowed two runs on 10 hits in 6-1/3 innings pitched. She took a shutout into the seventh inning before giving up a run. Hitchcock did not have a walk but did strike out three Gauchos. For the second week in a row, Aina Cabrales came in to earn the save in the series opener. She got the final two outs and had a walk and a strike out.

The Rainbow Wahine jumped onto the scoreboard first, posting two runs in the bottom of the second. Rachel Lack led the inning off with a single up the middle. Lack moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Sarina Jaramillo. Ulu Matagiese then reached on a fielder's choice as the shortstop threw to third to try get Lack out, but the third baseman dropped the ball which left runners at the corners. A double steal scored Lack as Matagiese hustled into third with the throw from the catcher to second bounced and then ricocheted off the cutting second baseman for the first run. Dori Ann Sugai then hit an RBI-groundout to drive in Matagiese for the early 2-0 lead.

Hawai'i added what proved to be the winning run in the bottom of the sixth. Kayla Wartner led the inning off by driving a single through the rightside of the infield. Heather Morales then laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to move Wartner into scoring position for Leisha Li'ili'i who came through in the clutch with a single to right to score Wartner from second to go up, 3-0.

In the top of the seventh though, the Gauchos almost battled all the way back. The first two batters, Emily Brucelas and DeJanee Moore, started things with back-to-back singles. UH got the first out of the inning on a fielder's choice that was hit to Jaramillo at short who tossed it to Lack at third base to erase the lead runner. Back at the top of the order for UCSB, Kristen Clark then laced a base hit up the middle to load the bases. Jacqueline Hinojosa then hit a single through the rightside of the infield for UCSB's first run. UH starter Hitchcock was then lifted and Aina Cabrales entered the game with the bases loaded and one out. She got the second out of the frame on a swinging strike out, but then issued a walk to MeShalon Moore which drove in Stacy Cavazos for UCSB's second run. UH got the final out when the next batter hit a fly out to right field that ended the rally and the game.

UC Santa Barbara's Ashley Ludlow suffered the loss, dropping her record to 4-17 overall and 0-5 in conference. She gave up three runs on five hits with two strike outs and no walks.

The Gauchos out-hit the 'Bows, 10-to-5 but left nine runners on base. UCSB left two runners in scoring position in the fourth and in the fifth, they had the bases loaded with one out. But secondbaseman Sugai snagged a line drive and doubled off the runner at third to thwart the Gaucho rally.

The two teams will finish the three-game series on Saturday with a doubleheader starting at 4:00 p.m. It will be Military Appreciation Day at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium and the 'Bows will be wearing special camouflage Under Armour jerseys. Colonel Lisa Ann Onaga of the U.S. Air Force will throw out the first pitch while the Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Navy Color Guard will participate in pregame ceremonies with the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Pacific Band will be playing the National Anthem.