Needing to start a late-season run, the University of Hawaii softball team managed to stifle UC Santa Barbara’s seventh-inning rally in a 3-2 series-opening win on Friday at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

Leisha Li’ili’i drove in what proved to be the deciding run in the bottom of the sixth to give the Rainbow Wahine a 3-0 lead.

UCSB loaded the bases in the top of the seventh and scored on Jaqueline Hinojosa’s one-out single and MeShalon Moore’s walk with two out. But UH reliever Kanani Aina Cabrales got a flyout to right field to earn her third save of the season.

Brittany Hitchcock (14-6) went 61/3 innings and earned the win for UH (27-19, 8-5). She gave up 10 hits, struck out three, walked none and worked out of trouble in the fourth and fifth innings to fend off the Gauchos (15-31, 2-11).

The Wahine trail Big West-leading CSUN by 41/2 games going into Saturday’s 4 p.m. doubleheader.

"It’s going to be a battle every single game from here on out in our conference," Hitchcock said. "So we have to come out and execute the little things, putting down the bunts, making everything happen and continue working on the mound."

UH’s execution in the short game led to all of its scoring opportunities, starting with a two-run second inning.

Rachel Lack led off the inning with a single up the middle and advanced on Sarina Jaramillo’s bunt. She took off for third on Ulu Matagiese’s grounder to short and slid in safely when the throw was dropped. 

The Wahine then executed a double steal with Lack coming down the line to score UH’s first run.

"We work on it for an hour, sometimes an hour-plus, every week," UH coach Bob Coolen said. "I tell the kids we’re only going to do it once or twice in five, six, seven games, but when we do, it might be a ballgame."

UCSB’s Ashley Ludlow retired 11 consecutive UH hitters before Kayla Wartner led off the bottom of the sixth with a single through the right side. Heather Morales bunted her to second and Li’ili’i’s RBI single gave UH a three-run lead.

"I had to do something to contribute to the team because my first two at-bats weren’t so good," Li’ili’i said. "I was late on the pitch, so Coach Dee (Wisneski) told me to treat it as a hit-and-run."

The ground balls that helped Hitchcock get out of earlier innings found holes in the top of the seventh and UCSB strung four singles to cut into the lead. But Aina Cabrales worked around the walk to preserve the win. 

"I had faith in Nani that she would come in (and) shut them down," Hitchcock said. "She did a good job and came in and got the last two outs."

Ashley Ludlow and MeShalon Moore. Brittany Hitchcock, Kanani Aina Cabrales (7) and Kayla Wartner. W–Hitchcock. L–Ludlow. S–Aina Cabrales.

Leading hitters–UCSB: Jaqueline Hinojosa, RBI; Arianna Palomares, 2-4; MeShalon Moore, RBI; DeJanee Moore, 2-3. Hawaii: Leisha Li’ili’i, RBI; Dori Ann Sugai, RBI.

Friday

Hawaii 3, UCSB 2

Saturday

UC Santa Barbara at Hawaii (DH), 4 p.m.

UC Davis at UC Riverside (DH)

Cal Poly at CS Fullerton (DH)

CSUN at Long Beach State (DH)