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NORTHRIDGE, Calif.—The University of Hawai'i softball team (28-21, 9-7 Big West) rallied from behind and then then held off league-leader CSUN (39-12, 14-2 Big West) to open the three-game conference series with a 4-3 win. Leisha Li'ili'i drove in Kayla Wartner for the winning run in the top of the seventh while Brittany Hitchcock earned the complete game victory to improve to 15-7 overall and 6-2 in conference.
 
Hitchcock allowed three runs on six hits with three walks and a strike out. It was her 12th complete game in 26 starts as a redshirt freshman.
 
Hawai'i got on the scoreboard first, posting one run in the top of the third. Ulu Matagiese led the inning off with a single to right-centerfield. She moved to second on a passed ball. After a swinging strike out, Keiki Carlos drew a walk. Matagiese was cut down at third on a steal attempt which left Carlos at second. Kayla Wartner then drove an opposite-field RBI-double to the left-centerfield gap to score Carlos from second for the game's first run.
 
The 'Bows added another run in the top of the fourth to go up 2-0. Leisha Li'ili'i led off with a single up the middle. Pinch runner Sarah McAndrew then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Sarina Jaramillo. Rachel Lack then hit a single to left to drive in McAndrew from second.
 
CSUN see-sawed in front of Hawai'i in the bottom of the fourth by scoring three runs.  Katie Hooper led the inning off with a double to the right-centerfield gap. After a ground out to short, Maylynn Mitchell singled through the leftside of the infield to drive in Hooper from second. Ariana Wassmer then drew a walk to put runners at first and second. Tara Kliebenstein then hit a grounder to second, but an error on a fielder's choice attempt allowed Mitchell to score. Taylor Nate followed with an RBI single through the leftside of the infield to allow Wassmer to cross the plate.
 
Hawai'i answered back in the top of the sixth to even the game at 3-3. The Matadors got the first two outs on infield pop-outs. Lack then drew a walk and Lindsey Willmon singled up the middle to put runners at first and second. Matagiese then walked to load the bases and Tayana Mata was plunked to score Lack from third. Jordan Sauceda, who started the game as the designated player and leadoff hitter, then came into pitch for Brianna Elder with two outs and the bases loaded and got a groundout to thwart the UH rally and end the inning.
 
CSUN responded by loading the bases in the bottom of the 6th. Wassmer reached on a fielding error on the second baseman and then pinch runner Sherman sprinted to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kliebenstein. After a groundout to the pitcher, pinch-hitter Maas and Sauceda both drew walks to load the bases. But the 'Bows got a fly out to center to stymie the Matadors.
 
In the top of the seventh, Wartner drew a walk to start the inning. Heather Morales then laid down a sacrifice bunt to push Wartner into scoring position at second. Li'ili'i then drove in Wartner from second for what proved to be the winning run with an RBI single back up the middle. UH led 4-3 going into the bottom of the seventh.
 
The Matadors 3, 4, and 5 hitters were due up in the bottom of the seventh , but Hitchcock got a pair of groundouts to second and a flyout to center to retire CSUN in order for the win.
 
CSUN's Elder threw the first 5-2/3 innings, allowing three runs on five hits with four walks and five strike outs. Sauceda took the loss, dropping her record to 2-2. She threw the final 1-1/3 innings, allowing one run on one hit with a walk.
 
The two teams will square off in a series-ending doubleheader on Saturday with the first pitch scheduled for 1:00 p.m. It will be Senior Day for the Matadors.