After a run-rule loss to Oregon State, the University of Hawaii softball team bounced back with a 6-2 win over Wichita State to split its doubleheader in the DeMarini Desert Classic on Friday in Henderson, Nev.

The Rainbow Wahine opened their day with an 11-1 loss to Oregon State in five innings at Stephanie Lynn Craig Park.

UH catcher Rachel Lack then sparked the Wahine (5-4) against Wichita State with a home run to lead off the top of the second inning. Freshman Nicole Lopez launched a three-run homer in the third and UH snapped a four-game losing streak.

UH junior Kanani Aina Cabrales held Wichita State to four hits, struck out five and walked four and improved to 3-1 with a complete-game victory.

“Nani pitched a good game, the bats came alive and they didn’t fold after the Oregon State game, which was good,” UH coach Bob Coolen said in a phone interview.

The tournament continues today with UH facing Southern Utah and Grand Canyon in another doubleheader in Henderson.

Sarah Muzik went 3-for-4 in the leadoff spot for UH and scored on Lopez’s second home run of the season. Lack’s homer was her first of the season. She also drove in Lopez with a groundout in UH’s two-run fifth inning.

Wichita State (3-4) scored both of its runs in the bottom of the third and loaded the bases with two out in the sixth, bringing the tying run to the plate. But Aina Cabrales escaped with a flyout to left field and closed out the win in the seventh.

The game ended with right fielder Keiki Carlos making a diving catch on a foul fly. The runner on first tried to tag but left early and was called out on an appeal for a double play.

In UH’s first game of the day, Oregon State freshman Meehra Nelson held UH to four singles and struck out eight in a complete-game win.

“She throws 67 (miles per hour) and she was tough,” Coolen said.

UH sophomore Brittany Hitchcock went four innings and gave up five runs on eight hits. Freshman Naomi Monahan made her first pitching appearance of the season in the fifth and surrendered six runs with three earned.

Kapolei graduate Mikela Manewa opened the scoring for Oregon State (6-1) with an RBI single in the top of the second inning and later scored on Jessica Garcia’s two-run single.

Nelson was perfect through three innings with four strikeouts before giving up an infield single to Muzik to lead off the bottom of the fourth with the Beavers leading 5-0. After a Carlos single, the Wahine broke up the shutout on Heather Morales’ single to right to score Muzik.

Madison Anthony led off the fifth with a home run to open a six-run outburst and Nelson finished off the win for the Beavers.