HONOLULU—The University of Hawaii softball team (4-5) battled hard but fell to UNLV, 6-3 on the second day of the Bank of Hawaii Invitational at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. Hawai'i got back-to-back home runs by Heather Morales and Callee Heen to account for UH's three runs in the third inning, but it was not enough as the Rebels posted five runs combined in the final three innings for the win.
 
The Rebels took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Kiley Harrison got aboard on a single then moved to second on a groundout to first. Harrison then scored on an RBI single to leftfield by Janine Petmecky. But on the play, Petmecky got stuck in a rundown between first and second and got tagged out, 7-6-4-3 to end the inning.
 
Hawai'i tried to rally in the bottom of the frame, loading the bases with two outs. But a fielder's choice thwarted UH's scoring opportunity with the third out coming as the shortstop flipped to the third baseman off a grounder for the fielder's choice third out.
 
UH leap-frogged the Rebels to take a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the third. Nicole Lopez started the rally with a one out single to the leftside of the infield. Morales then followed by drilling her first home run of the season over the leftfield fence. It was the 11th career homer of the senior's career. Heen then blasted a solo shot to centerfield to give the 'Bows the two run lead. It was the freshman's second home run of the season and her team-leading eighth RBI of the year.
 
UNLV got one run back in the top of the fifth when Abby Howard hit a solo home run just over the centerfield fence to cut their deficit to just one run, 3-2.
 
The Rebels then retook the lead in the sixth, posting three runs. Brianna Gatlin started things off with a single to rightfield, but the ball went through the right fielder for an error allowing Gatlin to race to third. She then tied the game on a sacrifice fly hit to deep centerfield. Alyssa Navarro drew a walk and Justine Federe hit a home run to center to take a 5-3 lead. UNLV then added another run in the top of the seventh on an RBI single to short by Mara Kemmer to drive in Jade Yadao-Valdez for a 6-3 lead.
 
Hawai'i, however, tried to mount a big rally in the bottom of the seventh. Danielle Garcielita reached on an error and advanced to second on the play. Sarah Muzik then hit a single to first to put runners at the corners with UH's third, fourth and fifth batters coming up. But Lopez hit into a fielder's choice that erased Muzik at second while holding Garcielita at third. Morales then fouled out to a diving first baseman, but on the play, Lopez alertly tagged up and advanced to second to put both runners into scoring position for Heen. But Heen was then hit by a pitch for the second time to load the bases with two outs. But the Rebels got a ground out back to the pitcher to end the game. UH left nine runners on base for the game.
 
UH starting pitcher Brittany Hitchcock suffered the loss, evening her record to 3-3. She gave up six runs on eight hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
 
UNLV pitcher Morgan Ettinger earned the win with a complete game effort. She allowed three runs on eight hits with no walks or strikeouts.

Hawai'i head coach Bob Coolen remains just three wins away from capturing his 1,000th career win. He currently has a career record of 997-646-1. In 26 seasons as the head coach of UH, he has a 925-553-1 record. 
 
The Bank of Hawaii Invitational continues with Day Three on Saturday with four games on tap. Hawai'i will play the final two games of the day against Oregon at 2:00 pm and then UNLV at 4:00 pm.