HONOLULU—The University of Hawai'i softball team (16-12, 0-0 Big West) held off Cleveland State for a 5-4 win on Day Four of the Bank of Hawaii Rainbow Wahine Classic. Freshman pitcher Emily Klee earned the win in her first collegiate start. The Hawai'i offense was highlighted by Nicole Lopez's two-run home run in the first inning on Saturday afternoon at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
 
For the first time in the tournament, UH scored first, posting a pair of runs on Lopez's fifth home run of the season. Her two-run shot sailed over the leftfield fence. The blast drove in Jennifer Iseri who reached on a fielder's choice earlier in the inning..
 
In the top of the second, Cleveland State cut their deficit in half as they scored one on an RBI single by Emery Sipe.
 
UH added another run in the bottom of the third on a sacrifice fly to left by Iseri that drove in Britnee Rossi who had laced a double to left to start the rally.
 
Hawai'i extended their lead to 5-1 in the bottom of the fourth. UH loaded the bases with a single by Callee Heen, a bunt single by Cheeks Ramos and a walk to Chardonnay Pantastico. Pinch hitter then hit into a fielder's choice to allow pinch runner Jenna Kumabe score from third. Then with a first and third situation, Jaquez got caught in a rundown between first and third allowing pinch runner Courtney Hiruko to score from third to give UH a 5-1 lead.
 
The Vikings answered back, scoring on an RBI-double by Mackenzie Joecken that scored Paige Hartley. In the top of the sixth, CSU added two more runs on a two-RBI single by Joecken. UH then relieved Klee with Dana Thomsen  who got a strikeout and later a flyout to snuff out the rally.
 
With UH clinging to a 5-4 lead, CSU's leadoff batter in the seventh drew a walk. A sacrifice bunt moved the runner to second, where she was stranded as Iseri made a running catch in left and Thomsen got a swinging strikeout to end the game.
 
UH starter, southpaw Klee made her longest appearance of the season, throwing 5.1 innings in the win. She gave up four runs on eight hits with four walks and a strikeout. Thomsen earned her first save of the season, throwing the final 1.2 innings. She did not allow a hit, but gave up a walk while striking out two.
 
The Rainbow Wahine conclude their 17-game homestand on Sunday, March 18 with a single game at 10:00 am vs. Maryland at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium in the final game of the Bank of Hawaii Rainbow Wahine Classic.