After another rough start, Hawaii’s bench helped lead the Rainbow Wahine softball team to a rousing finish.

UH endured a long top of the first inning for a second straight night as Pacific exploded for five runs to open the game. But a six-run bottom of the fifth sent the Rainbow Wahine to an 8-7 comeback win on Thursday to cap the second night of the Jack in the Box Spring Fling Tournament.

Kaile Nakao, Dori Ann Sugai and Ulu Matagiese, all of whom began the game on the bench, drove in four runs among them in the inning and pitcher Loie Kesterson recovered from a shaky start to close out a complete-game victory.

"Hopefully they have a never-say-die attitude; I hope they keep that attitude," UH coach Bob Coolen said. "With all the moves I make I hope they excite each other when that happens."

Coolen said he told the team on Monday he would start going deeper into the bench, and the moves paid off on Thursday.

UH trailed 7-2 going into the bottom of the fifth inning, and the first five batters of the inning reached base, cutting into the deficit on Keiki Carlos’ RBI double and a Pacific error that allowed Kristina Akiona, who went 2-for-2 off the bench, to score.

Nakao’s sacrifice fly with the bases loaded cut the Tigers’ lead to 7-5, and Sugai’s double to left-center — the first hit of her career — scored Leisha Li’ili’i and brought UH within a run.

"Being on the bench you’re waiting for that moment, so you have to stay confident in yourself and believe you can do it," Sugai said.

Matagiese took the same mind-set to the plate and drilled a double into the right-center gap to score Sharla Kliebenstein and Sugai with the tying and go-ahead runs.

"I wasn’t about to leave them stranded; it was my job," said Matagiese, a freshman from Waimea. "I know Coach Bob believes in me, and I have to show I want to be here and I’m there for a reason. You have to live and love to be in that batters’ box."

Pacific jumped out to the lead with five runs on five hits in the top of the first inning, highlighted by Alex Steinmehl’s two-run triple. Kesterson kept UH within reach by allowing two runs on six hits over the rest of the game and escaped jams in the sixth and seventh innings after Pacific put runners on first and second.

"(After the first inning) I got a drink of water and said, ‘OK, Loie, refocus, it’s over with, you can’t do anything about it now,’ and tried to settle down a little and know I can do it and just trust myself," Kesterson said.

UH’s five-day run in the tournament continues Friday with a rematch with California. The game is scheduled for 6 p.m. The Golden Bears rode a nine-run first inning to a 10-1 victory over UH on Wednesday.

At Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium 

Leading hitters—Pacific: Nicole Zapotoczny, 3B, RBI; Megan Foglesong, 2-4, 3B, RBI; Bailey O’Mara, 2-3, RBI; Alex Steinmehl, 3B, 3 RBIs; Cassidy Gustafson, RBI.

Hawaii: Kristina Akiona, 2-2; Keiki Carlos, 2-4, 2B, RBI; Leisha Li’ili’i, 2B; Kaile Nakao, RBI; Jazmine Zamora, RBI; Dori Ann Sugai, 2B, RBI; Ulu Matagiese, 2B, 2 RBIs.

Thursday’s early game
California 5, Pacific 2

Friday
James Madison vs. Pacific, 2 p.m.
James Madison vs. California, 4 p.m.
California vs. Hawaii, 6 p.m.

Saturday
James Madison vs. California, noon
James Madison vs. Pacific, 2 p.m.
Pacific vs. Hawaii, 4 p.m.

Sunday
James Madison vs. Hawaii, 2 p.m.