The University of Hawaii softball team held off UC Santa Barbara’s seventh-inning rally to open a Big West series with a 3-2 win on Friday at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

Leisha Li’ili’i drove in a run in the bottom of the sixth to give the Rainbow Wahine (27-18, 8-5) a 3-0 lead, but UCSB (15-31, 2-11) 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 6 1/3 innings and earned the win. She struck out three and walked none.

Rachel Lack led off the bottom of the second 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. Matagiese then stole second and Lack scored when the throw was mishandled. Matagiese continued to third on the play and scored on Dori Ann Sugai’s groundout.

UCSB threatened in the fourth and fifth innings, but Hitchcock escaped both jams to protect the 2-0 lead. A baserunning miscue thwarted the Gauchos’ rally in the fourth. Sugai, UH’s second baseman, snagged a line drive to start a double play with the bases loaded in the fifth.

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 3-0 lead.

UCSB loaded the bases again with one out in the top of the seventh and Hinojosa broke up the shutout with a single to right. After a strikeout, Moore worked the count full and drew a walk to bring the Gauchos to within a run. Shelby Wisdom then lifted a fly ball to right and Keiki Carlos made the catch to end the game.

The series concludes with a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 4 p.m.