Hawaii reliever Kanani Aina Cabrales thwarted Cal Poly’s comeback attempt and the Rainbow Wahine softball team opened its Big West series against the host Mustangs with a 3-2 win on Friday in San Luis Obispo, Calif.

UH starter Brittany Hitchcock allowed one hit over five innings while the Wahine offense scratched out a 3-0 lead. The Mustangs chased the freshman with a two-run rally in the bottom of the sixth and Aina Cabrales stranded two runners on base in the sixth and left the tying run on in the seventh to earn her second save of the season.

UH improved to 25-18 overall and 6-4 in the Big West going into a doubleheader on Saturday at Bob Janssen Field.

Keiki Carlos scored the game’s first run on Leisha Li’ili’i’s double in the top of the first. Li’ili’i gave UH a 2-0 lead when she stole third with two out and scored on an errant throw.

Dori Ann Sugai drove in her first run of the season with two out in the fourth to extend UH’s lead to 3-0.

Hitchcock retired 13 straight hitters and had allowed just one hit before Emily Ceccacci and Chelsea Convissar delivered back-to-back triples to break up the shutout. Courtney Tyler followed with an RBI single and Sierra Hyland singled to chase Hitchcock. Aina Cabrales entered in relief and got two ground ball outs to get UH out of the inning with a 3-2 lead.

Cal Poly put the tying run on with one out in the bottom of the seventh, but Aina Cabrales got a fly out to right and a foul pop to third to finish off the win.

Hitchcock allowed five hits and didn’t record a walk or strikeout and raised her record to 12-6. Hyland (16-15) struck out four and took the loss.