HONOLULU—The University of Hawai'i softball team (7-5) fell to Marist , 3-2 to open the Bank of Hawaii Invitational. Hawai'i got RBI singles by Haley Johnson and Izabella Martinez, but it was not enough as Marist defeated the Rainbow Wahine, 3-2 on Friday night at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
 
UH's starter Brianna Lopez (4-2) fired a complete game in the loss, allowing three runs on seven hits with four walks and four strikeouts in seven innings of work.
 
Hawai'I struck first as Xiao Gin led off the bottom of the first by beating out a grounder for an infield single. Later Johnson ripped a double to drive in Gin from second for an early 1-0 lead.
 
In the top of the fifth, Marist had two runners in scoring position and Maddie Pleasants hit a grounder to third that was misplayed on an error at third which scored Shea Walsh to tie the game. Haley Ahr followed with an RBI single to right that drove in Sam Freeland for the go-ahead run. Marist. The bases were loaded with Red Foxes when UH second baseman Maya Nakamura skied to snag a hard-hit line drive then fired across the diamond to double-up the runner at third for the inning ending double play.
 
Marist extended its lead to 3-1 in the sixth. With runners at the corners, Walsh hit a line drive to short which was caught but on the throw to third to try to get the runner went awry allowing the runner from third to score.
 
The 'Bows got a run back in the sixth as Martinez drove in Nakamura with a single to left to cut their deficit to 3-2, which would be the final score.
 
Marist's Maddie Pleasants earned the win to even her record at 1-1. She allowed two runs on four hits with three walks and seven strikeouts.
 
Next up, the Rainbow Wahine will play two games on Day 2 of the Bank of Hawaii Invitational on Saturday, March 25. UH will take on Seattle U at 3:00 P.M. HT followed by Marist at 5:00 P.M..