Baylor coach Glenn Moore was hoping he wouldn’t have to bring his ace out of the bullpen on Thursday.

But with Hawaii threatening in the sixth inning, he didn’t wait long to summon Heather Stearns to the circle.

After the Rainbow Wahine closed to within a run in the bottom of the sixth inning, Stearns hit the first batter she faced, then struck out the next six to to close out the No. 21 Bears’ 3-2 win in the Outrigger Spring Fling Tournament at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

Stearns, a first-team All-Big 12 selection last season, threw 21 of her 28 pitches for strikes in her third save of the season to hold down the Wahine, who saw a late-inning comeback fall just short for the second straight night.

“Last one could have gone either way,” UH freshman Sarah Muzik said of Wednesday’s 3-2 loss to California. “This one I thought we definitely competed up to the last inning and we just need to keep up this fight.”

Stearns was named the NFCA National Pitcher of the Week on March 1 after throwing a no-hitter against Southern Mississippi on Feb. 26 and protected the win for Baylor starter Kendall Potts, who held UH to one run on three hits in five innings. Kelsee Selman entered in relief to start the sixth inning with Baylor leading 3-1 and struggled to find the plate.

Muzik walked to lead off the inning and advanced to third on two wild pitches. She was awarded home when Selman was called for an illegal pitch to bring the Wahine within a run. After Nicole Lopez walked, Moore brought in Stearns, who hit Keiki Carlos with her first pitch. But she got the next three batters swinging to strand the runners and ended the night with three more strikeouts in the seventh.

“It’s a big luxury. I’m disappointed we had to do that because our bullpen didn’t hold up their end of the bargain,” Moore said. “We know we have some quality arms and we obviously know how good Heather is and she can be very good. That’s a good lineup and we know what they’re capable of doing, especially in their ballpark.”

After dropping their third in a row, the Wahine (12-12) take on North Dakota State today at 6 p.m. The Bison (12-9) held off California 6-5 in Thursday’s first game and last faced UH in the 2012 NCAA regional in Tucson, Ariz.

“We manufactured some runs and now we gotta get better and start beating these better teams,” UH coach Bob Coolen said. “North Dakota State’s very aggressive. They came out today and beat Cal; they swing the bats and they run the bases.”

Coolen was encouraged by the complete-game effort of junior Kanani Aina Cabrales, who had rough outings in her previous three appearances. She fell behind in the first inning on Sarah Smith’s two-out, two-run double and gave up a home run to Linsey Hays to lead off the top of the fourth. But she kept the Wahine in contention throughout and struck out two and walked none.

“Much better outing for Nani,” Coolen said. “I’m glad she was able to get out of it and we made plays behind her.”

Kendall Potts, Kelsee Selman (6), Heather Stearns (6) and Sydney Christensen, Robin Landrith (6). Kanani Aina Cabrales and Heather Cameron. W–Potts. L–Aina Cabrales. Sv–Stearns

Leading hitters–Baylor: Jessie Scroggins, 2-4; Linsey Hays, 2-3, 2B, HR; Sarah Smith, 2-2, 2B, 2 RBIs. Hawaii: Sarah Muzik, 3B; Keiki Carlos, RBI.

Thursday’s early game

North Dakota State 6, California 5

Today

Baylor vs. California, 1 p.m.

Baylor vs. North Dakota State, 3:30 p.m.

North Dakota State vs. Hawaii, 6 p.m.

Saturday

California vs. North Dakota State, 10 a.m.

Baylor vs. Hawaii, noon

North Dakota State vs. Hawaii, 2 p.m.