The Rainbow Wāhine Softball team began their three-game series with the UC Riverside Highlanders with a disappointing 4-2 loss at Rainbow Wāhine Softball Stadium on Friday.

After a scoreless first inning, the 'Bows drew first blood in the second inning. Jamie McGaughey began the bottom of the second with a triple to left field. After a Milan Ah Yat ground out, and Ellyanna Cinzori was walked, Cierra Yamamoto used a sacrifice bunt that was enough to bring in McGaughey and Cinzori on a Riverside throwing error for the early 2-0 lead.

After a scoreless third inning, Riverside did all their scoring in the fourth inning. They loaded the bases with only one out before Haley Saole put Riverside on the board with an RBI single up the middle that brought in Rebeca Cabezas. Then, Jackie Alday blasted a triple home run to center field that brought in Kamryn Davis and Jen Ragay to give Riverside a 4-2 lead.

Riverside loaded the bases once again, but their second rally was denied on a Trendee Kahunahana foul out to right field.

Despite UH got out of that jam, the damage was done. In the seventh and final inning, UH had one last chance to cause an upset. Chloe Borges began the bottom of the seventh with a single, but she was tagged out at second on a Larissa Goshi fielder's choice. Izabella Martinez hit a single to right field herself that allowed Goshi to get to second; unfortunately, Riverside slammed the door with two outs on Carys Murakami and Liliana Thomas.

With the loss, UH drops to 20-14 overall and 6-6 in the Big West while Riverside improved to 16-20 overall and 7-6 in Big West play. Both teams will return to RWSS for a doubleheader on Saturday, Apr. 5, 2025 starting at 2 p.m.