HONOLULU—The University of Hawai'i softball team came up short against Josai University of Saitama, Japan in an international exhibition game. The Rainbow Wahine fell 6-5 to their visitors from Japan at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium on Wednesday night.
 
Hawai'i jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead In the first inning. UH's Haley Johnson hit a two-run double just inside the foul pole off the leftfield wall to drive in pinch runner Maya Ichimura and Ka'ena Keliinoi. A couple of batters later, Maycen Gibbs launched a two-run home run to centerfield to extend UH's lead to 4-0.
 
With runners at the corners, Josai posted a run in the second on a double-steal to trail 4-1.
 
Hawai'i added a run in the second for a 5-1 advantage on a fielder's choice groundout to short by Alyssa Nakagawa that scored Chloe Borges from third.
 
Josai then erupted for five runs to propel past UH for a 6-5 lead. Josai started the inning with four-straight singles, the last by Suda Azusa drove in Sakura Hasegawa. Then with the bases still loaded, an RBI walk, and RBI groundout and the fifth single of the frame all resulted in a run scored as the team from Japan took the lead.
 
UH's Key-Annah Campbell-Pua gave up one run on a hit with two walks in the first to start the game. Borges then thew the third inning, allowing just a hit. Addison Kostrencich threw the fourth and fifth innings and suffered the loss allowing five runs on six hits with a walk and a strikeout. Millie Fidge tossed a scoreless sixth inning allowing a hit with a walk and a strikeout and McKenna Kostyszyn came in the final frame and went three-up and three-down.

In the loss, 26 Rainbow Wahine made an appearance into the game--including all five pitchers. 
 
Josai's starter, Yuzuki Oka tossed the first three innings and re-entered as the closer to earn the save. She threw 4.0 innings allowing all five runs on seven hits with a pair of walks. Kotori Baba earned the win in relief, blanking UH in the fourth inning. Riho Karakisawa and Ayaka Kondo both did not allow a run in an inning each. Oka came back to begin the seventh for the save.
 
The Rainbow Wahine have this coming weekend off, but then hit the road to play a single game at Cal Baptist on Tuesday, Feb. 20 before competing in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Cathedral City, Calif. from Feb. 22-25. UH will face Rutgers on Thurs., Feb. 22 followed by a double-header on Friday, Feb. 23 against Fresno State and California. The 'Bows have Saturday off then concludes the tourney with a doubleheader against Illinois and Tennessee on Sunday, Feb. 25^th.