HONOLULU—The University of Hawai'i softball team (14-12, 0-0 Big West) split its Thursday doubleheader on Day Two of the Bank of Hawaii Rainbow Wahine Classic. Hawai'i scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh for a 6-5 comeback win over Cleveland State (8-14) that ended on a three run home run by Britnee Rossi. In the nightcap, the 'Bows battled hard but eventually fell to No. 4 Tennessee (28-1, 3-0 SEC), 10-5 at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
 
Hawai'i 6, Cleveland State 5
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Hawai'i was led by freshman rightfielder Britnee Rossi who led UH at the plate going 3-for-4 with four RBI and a pair of home runs--one of the inside the park variety and a three-run, walk off bomb to right-centerfield that lifted UH to a 6-5 win over Cleveland State. Rookie reliever Emily Klee earned her first collegiate win in her longest appearance of the year. She allowed two runs on si hits with two walks and a strikeout.

In the top of the third, the Vikings took a 3-0 lead. After a strikeout, Paige Hartley reached safely after an error on the shortstop trying to catch a Popfly. Hartley ended up at second on the play. Later with the bases loaded, Riley Ries hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Hartley. The next batter, Makenzie Joecken then drove a double into the leftfield corner, allowing two runners to score.
 
In the bottom of the third, Britnee Rossi hit her second inside the park home run past a diving rightfielder to cut UH's deficit to 3-1.
 
Callee Heen launched her team-leading eighth home run of the season. It was a solo shot that sailed over the right-centerfield fence. The score after four complete innings had Cleveland State leading UH, 3-2.
 
Things were looking dim after CSU scored two more runs in the top of the seventh on a two-RBI doubles by Emery Sipe to pad their lead to 5-2.
 
But Hawai'i rallied in the bottom of the seventh, scoring four runs for their second walkoff win in as many games. Cheeks Ramos led the frame off by ripping a double down the leftfield line. Chardonnay Pantastico then singled to rightcenterfield to put runners at the corners. Heather Cameron then got a hit up the middle to score pinch-runner Jordian Hicks. After a flyout to left, Rossi came through with a three-run blast over the right-centerfield fence for the win. It marked UH's second-straight walk-off win after last night's 4-3 win in nine innings over North Dakota on Danielle Garcielita's sac fly.
 
For Hawai'i, UH's starter Dana Thomsen lasted 2.2 innings, allowing three unearned runs on three hits with four walks and five strikeouts.
 
CSU's Hannah Breeden threw the first four innings, allowing two runs on three hits with a walks and two strikeouts. Mackenzie Joecken suffered the loss, dropping her record to 4-5. She allowed four runs on four hits with a walk and a strikeout.
 
 
No. 4 Tennessee 10, Hawai'i 5
Box Score (HTML)
 
The Lady Vols continued their hot hitting against the 'Bows. Aubrey Leach led the game off with a solo home run to right-centerfield. Two walks then loaded the bases. Brooke Vines then rapped a single up the middle to drive in another run and later with the bases still loaded UH walked the third run in.
 
Tennessee added another run in the second on an RBI single by Chelsea Seggern that drove in Jenna Holcomb who had doubled earlier in the inning.
 
Hawai'i got one run back in the bottom of the second. Ranael Turner led off with a looping single behind the third baseman. Pantastico walked to put runners at first and second and Heather Cameron then drove a single down the leftfield line to score a sprinting Katelyn Mahelona from second. Cheeks Ramos then unleashed a line shot back to the pitcher who doubled off the runner at first for a double play.
 
In the bottom of the third, UH posted another run on the scoreboard. Rossi drilled a single up the middle to start the inning. After a failed bunt attempt, Lopez drove a single down the third base line to move Rossi to second. Heen then hit into a fielder's choice which erased Lopez at second but pushed Rossi to third. Rachael Turner then chopped a single up the middle to score Rossi.
 
UT extended their lead to 5-2 on an RBI double by Seggern.
 
The 'Bows cut their deficit to just one run in the bottom of the fifth when Heen blasted a two-run home run over the right-centerfield fence. The homer drove in Lopez who had reached on an error on the shortstop.
 
But the Lady Vols then erupted for five runs—highlighted by a three-run home by Meghan Gregg. UT led 10-4.
 
Hawai'i scored one more run in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI groundout to second by Pantastico that scored Lopez from third for a final score of 10-5.
 
UH's Thomsen suffered the loss, dropping her record to 8-8. She threw the first five innings, allowing eight runs on nine hits with four walks and three strike outs. Klee finished the game tossing the final two innings. She allowed two runs on three hits with a walk and three strikeouts.
 
Tennessee's starter Caylan Arnold threw only a few pitches before getting called for a couple of illegal pitches. She was relieved by Matty Moss, who threw three innings and gave up two runs on five hits with a walk and a strike out. Gabby Sprang earned the win, throwing four innings, allowing three runs on two hits with a walk and a strikeout.
 
The Rainbow Wahine continue play in the Bank of Hawaii Rainbow Wahine Classic as they take on North Dakota on Friday night at 7:00 pm.