It was a down-and-up Friday for the University of Hawaii softball team and sophomore pitcher Loie Kesterson in the Easton Desert Classic in Las Vegas.

Kesterson struggled through an 11-1 loss to Florida in UH’s first game of the day at Eller Media Stadium. The left-hander then bounced back to earn a win in relief against Seattle, ending the game with three scoreless innings as UH held off the Redhawks 9-8 to earn a split of the doubleheader.

"She did a nice job. She was pitching down (against Seattle)," UH coach Bob Coolen said. "She and (catcher) Sharla (Kliebenstein) figured it out. Everything that was pitched up was getting out of the ballpark. They started swinging at all of her down stuff, so I just said ‘stay there.’"

After being held to one hit by Florida, the Rainbow Wahine offense pounded out 15 against Seattle, including five for extra bases. UH (5-3) is 2-1 in the tournament heading into a game with Portland State on Saturday.

Florida — ranked first in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 and second in the USA Today/NFCA coaches poll — hit four home runs off of Kesterson in the Gators’ five-inning win.

Lauren Haeger and Hanna Rogers, both first-team NFCA All-Americans last year, headlined the win for the Gators (8-0). Haeger homered twice, and Rogers held UH to one hit over four innings while earning her 100th career win.

Haeger’s homer in the fourth inning gave Florida a 6-0 lead, and the Gators got homers from Aubree Munro, Kelsey Stewart and Haeger in the fifth.

Leisha Li’ili’i broke up Rogers’ no-hit bid with a solo home run in the fourth inning.

Coolen shuffled the lineup against Seattle (1-8), moving freshman Lindsey Willmon into the leadoff spot. Willmon responded by opening the game with a home run and adding an RBI double in the second. UH had gone 1-for-19 from the leadoff spot in the first seven games.

"I asked her, ‘Have you ever hit No.1 before?’ and she said, ‘Not in my life,’ " Coolen said. "She goes, ‘I’ll hit wherever you want me to in the lineup.’ "

UH catcher Kayla Wartner left the Seattle game early with a sore arm and her status is day-to-day.

Hannah Rogers, Delanie Gourley (5) and Aubree Munro. Loie Kesterson and Sharla Kliebenstein. W–Rogers. L–Kesterson.

Leading hitters–Florida: Kelsey Stewart, 2-4, 3 runs, 3B, HR, 3 RBIs; Kirsti Merritt, 2-3, 3 RBIs;

Lauren Haeger, 3-4, 2 HR, 2 RBIs; Munro, HR; Taylore Fuller, 3 runs. Hawaii: Leisha Li’ili’i, HR.

Heather Morales. Loie Kesterson (4) and Kayla Wartner, Sharla Kliebenstein (2). Lindsay Davis, Alyssa Reuble (2), Mandie Sugita (4) and Hayley Beckstrom, Bubba Morrow (4). W–Kesterson. L–Reuble.

Leading hitters–Hawaii: Lindsey Willmon, 2-4, 2B, HR, 2 RBIs; Keiki Carlos, 2-4, 2B; Kristina Akiona, 2-4, 3B, RBI; Alyssa Villalpando, 3-4, 2B, RBI; Sarina Jaramillo, 2-3, 3 RBIs.

Seattle: Isabella Geronimo, 2-5, 2B; Brianna Guerrero, 2-4; Bubba Morrow, 3-5, 2 2B, 2 RBIs; Lisa Maulden, 3-4, 2B, HR, 3 RBIs.