HONOLULU—The University of Hawai'i softball team overcame a three-run deficit in the sixth inning for an 8-7 comeback win over Portland State in the final game of the Hawai'i Invitational on Sunday afternoon at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. Mikaela Gandia-Mak launched a two-run, go-ahead home run to cap a four run eruption from UH in the bottom of the sixth to leapfrog the Vikings on the scoreboard with an inning to play. Rookie pitcher Jetta Nanned earned the win in relief in her first collegiate appearance in the pitching circle.
 
Nannen threw the final one-and-two-thirds innings in relief. She retired all five batters that she faced getting four groundouts and a pop out back to her to end the game. She is now 1-0.
 
Ka'ena Keliinioi led off the third with a single up the middle and advanced to second on a muffed throw to the second baseman off a grounder hit by Maya Nakamura. Both runners advanced into scoring position. But the Vikings got a double play after Callee Heen hit a shallow fly to leftfield and Keliinoi tried to score but was gunned out by the shortstop at the plate. Ramos then drove in the first run of the game with an RBI-single to left to drive in Nakamura. Nawai Kaupe followed by launching a two-run home run. For Kaupe it marked her sixth home run of the year.
 
The Vikings rallied tie the score at 3-3 in the top of the fourth. Emily Johansen scored on a fielding error on the second baseman. Pinch hitter Ariana Abalos then hit a grounder to right to score Morrison, but on the play Mikaela Gandia-Mak threw her out at first to Heen. Later Riley Casper rapped a single to left to tie the score at 3-3.
 
Portland State added another three runs in the top of the fifth. Two came home on a double to right by Marissa Bruno and later Jessica Flanagan singled to drive in Bruno to give the Vikings a 6-3 lead.
 
Hawai'i was able to get one run back in the fifth on a Brittnee Rossi RBI-single to left that drove in pinch runner Cira Bartolotti in the fifth to cut their deficit to two runs, 6-4.
 
But the Vikings answered right back with a run of their own in the top of the sixth on a Johansen single to extend their lead to 7-4.
 
The Rainbows would rally for four runs to overtake the Vikings in the bottom of the sixth. Nakamura led off with a walk and Heen was plunked to put runners at first and second. Ramos then drilled an RBI-single to left to drive in Nakamura. Kaupe followed with a grounder back to the pitcher which was converted into a fielder's choice to erase Heen at third. On the play, after catching the throw from the pitcher for the out, the third baseman's throw to second went awry into right field which allowed pinch runner Haylee Clay to come around to score.  Gandia-Mak then drilled a two-run home run to give UH what proved to be the winning runs. It was her first career home run for the sophomore rightfielder.
Hawai'i completes the Hawaii Invitational with a 4-1 record to even its overall record at 8-8. Gandia-Mak led UH at the plate hitting a healthy .583 for the week going 7-for-12 at the plate with two runs scored, a double and a home run. Freshman Rachel Sabourin who did not play UH's last two games, hit .556 while fellow freshman Maya Nakamura hit .429 with a team-high five runs scored with a home run.
 
Hawaii's Isabella "Izzy" Dino got the start and threw the first 3.2 innings allowing three runs on four hits with a walk and a strikeout. Ashley Murphy then gave up three runs on two hits in two-thirds of an inning pitch. Emily Klee then tossed an inning allowing a run on two hits with a walk before Nannen came in to end the game.

Portland State's Haley Schimmel fired the first 3.1 innings allowing three runs on eight hits with a walk. Katie Schoeder took the loss dropping her record to 1-3. she allowed five runs on three hits with two walks and two strikeouts.

The Rainbow Wahine continue their month-long homestand with the Outrigger Hotels and Resorts Malihini Kipa Aloha Tournament which runs from February 27 – March 1. Oregon State, Nevada and Seattle will all be in Honolulu to compete in the four-day tourney.