HONOLULU—The University of Hawai'i softball team came from behind to defeat Portland State, 7-5 on the opening night of the Hawai'i Invitational.  Sophomore pitcher Ashley Murphy earned the win to even her record at 3-3 while senior Callee Heen led UH at the plate going 3-for-4 with a home run on Thursday night at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
 
The Roos led off the game with four-straight hits. Tayler Gunesch started the game with a double into the leftfield corner and Grace Hosman followed with an RBI single looped over second base. Later with one out, Emily Johansen lifted a two-run homer to left for a quick 3-0 lead.
 
Hawai'i responded immediately, getting two runs back in the bottom of the first. Brittnee Rossi led off with a double and Ka'ena Keliinoi drilled a triple to rightfield to drive in Rossi. Nawai Kaupe was then plunked to put runners at first and third with no outs for Callee Heen. Heen promply lined a single up the middle to score Keliinoi for UH's second run. The Rainbow Wahine went on to load the bases but Portland State escaped further damage getting a flyout to right, a strikeout and a flyout to center to end the inning. UH trailed after one inning, 3-2.
 
Nakamura hit a slow roller past the pitcher and beat out the throw at first to lead off the third. Later Rachel Sabourin hit a single through the leftside of the infield to put runners at the corners. With two outs, Sabourin got in a rundown between first and second allowing Nakamura to score to tie the game at 3-3.
 
In the bottom of the fourth with two outs, Kaupe hit a single up the middle and Heen followed with a line shot, two-run home run over the right-centerfield fence to give UH a 5-3 lead. It marked Heen's fifth homer of the season to tie Kaupe for the team lead, and her 43^rd home run of her career. She is now just one homer shy of tying former UH great Kate Robinson for No. 4 in the UH home run career record book.
 
In the fifth, the Vikings threatened to score putting two runners into scoring position. But a groundout to third thwarted their rally.
 
Hawai'i loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the fifth. Nakamura then scored on a fielding error on a ground ball hit to second by Keliinoi allowing the 'Bows to take a 6-3 lead.
 
With runners at first and second and two outs in the sixth, Sabourin drilled an RBI single up the middle to drive in pinch-runner Cira Bartolotti from second for a 7-3 lead.
 
The Vikings were not done yet. They got runners on first and second with two outs and pinch hitter Alexis Morrison drilled a triple off the rightfield wall to score both runners to cut their deficit to two. But UH was able to get a flyout to center to end the game.
 
Murphy fired a complete game to earn the win. She allowed five runs on seven hits with two walks and a strikeout. After allowing the home run in the first inning, she settled down to retire the next 11-straight batters and did not allow another hit until the sixth inning.
 
The Vikings' Serafine Parrish suffered the loss, dropping her record to 1-3. She gave up seven runs on 11 hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
 
The Hawaii Invitational continues with Day 2 of the four-day tourney on Friday. UH will take on Kansas City in the final game at 6:00 p.m.