CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif.—The University of Hawai'i softball team (1-5) got off to a hot start but Rutgers rallied for a come-from-behind, 14-7 win to open the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic at the Big League Dreams Complex on Thursday.
 
Hawai'i was aggressive on offense from the get-go, scoring runs in each of the first three innings—all on two outs—for a 6-1 lead. But the Scarlet Knights outscored UH 13-to-1 from that point for the come-from-behind win.
 
In the first, designated player Haley Johnson drove in Xiao Gin from second with a single up the middle for the early 1-0 lead.
 
Three consecutive RBI-singles with two outs in the second extended UH's lead to 4-0. Ka'ena Keliinoi, Izabella Martinez, and Johnson all came through with run scoring hits to extend UH's lead to 4-0
 
Rutgers' Katie Wingert hit a solo HR in the second to cut the Scarlet Knight's deficit to 4-1.
 
Mya'Liah Bethea led off the third with a double to the left-center gap and Dallas Millwood tattooed a double down the first base line to score Bethea easily from second. Maycen Gibbs then executed a sacrifice bunt to push Millwood to second. Keliinoi then drove in Millwood with an RBI-single through the 5-6 hold to score Millwood from third.
 
But in the bottom of the third, Rutgers fought back to score four runs, two coming off a Morgan Smith home run. Rutgers loaded the bases with two outs and Kayla Bock drilled a single that ricocheted off of UH starter Key-Annah Campbell-Pua which allowed two runs. Campbell-Pua came out of the game for reliever Addison Kostrencich who got a fielder's choice ground out to snuff out the rally with UH clinging to a 6-5 lead.
 
The Scarlet Knights leapfrogged into the lead on a pair of RBI singles to take a 7-6 lead in the fifth.
 
Hawai'i pinch hitter, freshman Jamie McGaughey came through in the sixth driving in pinch-runner Ellyanna Cinzori for her first career RBI to knot the score at 7-7.
 
But Rutgers then pulled away scoring seven runs in the sixth as UH used three pitchers who tried to extinguish the rally unsuccessfully. The Scarlet Knights loaded the bases a few times and batted around the order with five hits, two fielder's choices, and five walks—two coming with the bases loaded. Kostrencich started the inning but gave way to Chloe Borges who shifted from centerfield to pitcher. Millie Fidge entered in relief of Borges and later got the final out. The Scarlet Knights led 14-7 at the end of six complete innings.
 
UH starter Campbell-Pua allowed five runs on five hits in the first 2-2/3 innings. She issued two walks and a strikeout. Kostrencich suffered the loss (1-2) gave up eight runs on eight hits in three-plus innings of work with two walks. Borges allowed a run, a hit with two walks but was unable to get an out. Fidge allowed a walk  and got the final out of the sixth.
 
On offense, Keliinoi and Johnson both went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI and Maya Nakamura got back on track going 2-for-2 at the plate with two walks.
 
Rutger's starter Smith threw the first two innings. She gave up four runs on five hits with three walks and two strikeouts. Georgia Ingle earned the win throwing the final five innings. She allowed three runs on five hits with three walks.
 
Hawai'i continues action in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic with a doubleheader on Friday, Feb. 23. The 'Bows will face former WAC rival Fresno State followed by California at the Big League Dreams Complex in Cathedral City, Calif..