The timely hits that eluded the Hawaii softball team most of the week showed up just in time to send the Rainbow Wahine into the weekend with a much-needed comeback win.

After losing to No. 21 Baylor 3-0 in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday, UH (13-14) rallied from a five-run deficit to edge North Dakota State 7-6 in nine innings in the final game of the Outrigger Spring Fling finale at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

Sophomore first baseman Rachael Turner, who recently moved into the starting lineup with Heather Morales resting a hamstring injury, drilled a two-out single up the middle with the bases loaded in the ninth inning to drive in the game-winner and end UH’s five-game losing streak.

“It was a really special moment I’m going to remember for a long time,” Turner said after her second career RBI.

Kanani Aina Cabrales earned the win with six innings of relief for the Wahine (13-14). She held NDSU (14-11) to three hits, struck out two and walked one. Jacquelyn Sertic, who held UH to two hits in a complete-game win on Friday, gave up four runs on seven hits in 42⁄3 innings of relief and took the loss.

“It was nice to see Nani come in and do what she did,” UH coach Bob Coolen said. “Everyone else did their jobs and that was exciting.”

UH comeback attempts against California and Baylor came up short in 3-2 losses earlier in the tournament and the Wahine managed just three hits in losses to NDSU on Friday and in Saturday’s first game against Baylor, when Bears ace Heather Stearns threw a one-hitter and struck out six in the shutout.

The Wahine then fell behind NDSU in a five-run second inning highlighted by Maritza Lopez-Portillo’s grand slam.

The Bison aided the UH comeback with two bases-loaded walks in UH’s three-run fifth inning and Aina Cabrales brought UH within a run with a two-out double in the sixth. Nicole Lopez led off the bottom of the seventh with a single and advanced on a bunt. With two out, UH shortstop Breanna Ojala lined a double into the right-center gap to tie the game.

“It means a lot when I can come through for my team because they always come through for me,” Ojala said.

With the international tiebreaker in effect, the teams started their innings with a runner on second and both came up empty in the eighth. NDSU went up in the top of the ninth when Logan Moreland’s grounder got through Ojala, allowing Bre Beatty to score the go-ahead run with two out.

In the bottom of the inning, Lopez bunted Sarah Muzik to third and Ulu Matagiese looped a single to shallow center to drive in the tying run. After a Keiki Carlos double and an intentional walk to Ojala loaded the bases with two out, Turner came up empty on her first swing and associate coach Dee Wisneski — whom Coolen assigned to coach third base in his place to try to shake things up — called her over for a chat.

“She just said basically to take a deep breath, choke up a little bit so you can get your hands through fast and you got this,” said Turner.

Turner’s grounder up the middle got through the infield to score Matagiese with the winning run.

“We’ve really been working hard to get a win,” she said. “It’s been a while, so this is going to be really good for us.”

After playing 10 games in the past nine days, the Wahine have three days to recharge before hosting Texas and Iowa in the Hawaii Pacific Health Rainbow Wahine Classic starting Wednesday.

Heather Stearns and Robin Landrith. Brittany Hitchcock, Kanani Aina Cabrales (6) and Heather Cameron, Rachel Lack (6). W—Stearns. L—Hitchcock.

Leading hitters—Baylor: Linsey Hays, 2B, RBI; Shelby Friudenberg, 2-3; Caitlin Charlton, 2B, 2 RBIs. Hawaii: Keiki Carlos, 2B.

Kaitlyn Leddy, Jacquelyn Sertic (5) and Alyssa Reina. Jennifer Iseri, Kanani Aina Cabrales (4) and Heather Cameron, Rachel Lack (4). W—Aina Cabrales. L—Sertic.

Leading hitters—NDSU: Zoe Stavrou, 2-2, RBI; Cheyenne Garcia, 2-4, 2B; Maritza Lopez-Portillo, grand slam. Hawaii: Sarah Muzik, 3-3, RBI; Nicole Lopez, RBI; Ulu Matagiese, 2 RBIs; Keiki Carlos, 2B; Breanna Ojala, 2B, RBI; Aina Cabrales, 2B, RBI; Rachael Turner, 2-5, RBI.