Sarah Robinson slid into second base and looked around, a bit befuddled when the fielders started heading to the dugout.

Though she wasn’t aware of it at the moment, Robinson’s single was the finishing flourish on a remarkable rally for the University of Hawaii softball team Friday night.

After falling behind by three against rival Fresno State, the Rainbow Wahine scored two runs in the fourth, then broke loose for nine in the fifth to close out an 11-3 win in the opener of their Western Athletic Conference series.

Robinson’s single to center — her second hit of the inning — accounted for the final two runs that brought the eight-run rule into effect.

"I didn’t even know," Robinson said. "I didn’t want to worry about that, I just wanted to focus on my at-bat, focus on seeing the ball and just hitting it hard.

"I didn’t even know we eight-run-ruled them. When I was on second, I was like, ‘Where is everyone going?’ "

UH’s seven-hit outburst gave pitcher Stephanie Ricketts the win, raising her record to 24-3. She’d gone to the bullpen to warm up during the lengthy fifth inning and didn’t need go back into the circle again.

"I’m still shocked. I still feel like I need to go finish the game," Ricketts said.

"I’m a senior, pitching for four years and I’ve never been a part of game that went like that. I thought I’d seen everything."

With the win, No. 14/17 UH (38-5, 12-3 WAC) moved ahead of Fresno State (31-18, 11-3) and into first place in the conference standings entering today’s 2 p.m. doubleheader that will close the home schedule at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

"They know what they need to do," UH head coach Bob Coolen said. "We can’t walk out of here being satisfied with one win … so tomorrow’s going to be huge."

The seniors will be honored after today’s finale and the class contributed pivotal at-bats in Friday’s win before a capacity crowd.

After Fresno State took a 3-0 lead on Courtney Moore’s two-out home run in the top of the third, UH first baseman Makani Duhaylonsod-Kaleimamahu got the momentum rolling for the Wahine with a two-run shot to center. With Friday’s 3-for-3 performance, Duhaylonsod-Kaleimamahu has hit safely in her last 10 at-bats at RWSS dating back to UH’s last homestand against Louisiana Tech.

Her home run also gave the UH offense some confidence hitting against Fresno State ace Michelle Moses, who struck out seven through three innings. Last year, Moses went 3-0, threw a no hitter and struck out 17 in four appearances against UH.

"We didn’t do anything against Moses last year. She owned us," Coolen said. "For Makani to break the ice like that was huge."

After Ricketts worked out of a jam in the top of the fifth, UH combined seven singles with three walks in piecing together the decisive rally.

Trailing 3-2, UH loaded the bases with one out and senior left fielder Alex Aguirre’s hard grounder went off of the glove of a diving Maria Sio at shortstop to bring in Kelly Majam and Robinson with the tying and go-ahead runs.

"I was looking to see it out in front, that’s the biggest thing with me," Aguirre said. "I was looking for something down and something I could throw my hands at."

Leisha Li‘ili‘i, Duhaylonsod-Kaleimamahu, pinch hitter Jocelyn Enrique and Kayla Wartner all delivered run-scoring singles, and Robinson brought the game to a stunning end with her hit that scored Majam and Sharla Kliebenstein.

"That was crazy," Aguirre said. "Stephanie and I were looking at each other like ‘that just happened.’ "

At Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium

Michelle Moses, Mackenzie Oakes (5) and Kaitlin Griffin. Stephanie Ricketts and Kayla Wartner.

W—Ricketts. L—Moses.

Leading hitters—Fresno State: Courtney Moore, HR, 3 RBIs.

Hawaii: Wartner, RBIl; Sarah Robinson, 2-3, 2 RBIs; Alex Aguirre, 2 RBIs; Leisha Li’ili’i, 2 RBIs; Makani Duhaylonsod-Kaleimamahu, 3-3, HR, 3 RBIs.