LA JOLLA, Calif. — The University of Hawai'i softball team held off UC San Diego in a 3-2 victory on Friday at the Triton Softball Field in La Jolla, Calif., to open a three-game Big West series. 

Sophomore pitcher Taryn Irimata earned her third straight complete-game win while Jamie McGaughey led the UH offense with two hits and an RBI. The Rainbow Wahine (21-18, 13-6 Big West) racked up eight total hits in the conference road win over the Tritons (18-23, 7-12).
 
Irimata allowed just two earned runs while scattering six hits with four strikeouts. She faced 31 batters over seven innings and improved to 9-7 overall and 7-2 in conference action.

Hawai'i took the lead in the third inning when Rhea Furtado sparked the offense by beating out a bunt single, then stealing second before scoring on McGaughey's RBI single.

After UCSD tied the score at 1-1 on a Zara Wasserman RBI double, Hawai'i reclaimed the lead in the fourth as Milan Ah Yat hit a leadoff double and scored on a Kayara Tuiloma single.
 
The 'Bows added a crucial insurance run in the fifth inning when pinch-hitter Teiah Keliiholokai tripled to right-center field, bringing home McGaughey for a 3-1 lead.
 
UC San Diego kept the game close with a solo home run from Maalia Cherry in the sixth.

The game ended with some high drama in the bottom of the seventh. With Hawai'i clinging to a 3-2 lead, the Tritons loaded the bases with no outs. But Irimata and the UH defense got a flyout to center for the first out, a huge strikeout for the second out, and a final flyout to center to preserve the win.
 
UCSD starter Callie Howard (5-6) took the loss in a complete-game effort. She allowed three earned runs on eight hits, struck out two and walked one.

The 'Bows and Tritons will square off in a doubleheader on Saturday at the Triton Softball Field beginning at 9:00 a.m. Hawai'i Time (noon Pacific Time) with the series finale at approximately 11:00 a.m. HT (2 p.m. PT).