For the 17th-ranked Hawai'i softball team, happiness is a statement-making 6-1 victory over No. 12 Northwestern, a solid pitching performance backed by timely defensive plays, and an inspirational termite-gnawed chair.

Courtney Baughman (11-6) spaced eight hits in the Rainbow Wahine's first victory over a ranked opponent this season. The Rainbows, who finished 3-2 in the Bank of Hawai'i Invitational, open Western Athletic Conference play against New Mexico State tomorrow.

Baughman and catcher Katie Grimes usually select pitches from a menu of a batter's tendencies. This time, they were given specific instructions on how to pitch to each batter.

For instance, Baughman threw only change-ups to the Wildcats' best power hitter, Michelle Batts. She flied out twice and was thrown out trying to extend a double into a triple. Second baseman Melissa Gonzalez made the relay throw from short right field.

"I just went for it," Gonzalez said. "I tried to get it on point."

Baughman escaped jams when right fielder Tanisha Milca made a sprinting catch in the third inning and shortstop Valana Manuma's stop that led to a double play in the fourth.

"The defense was spectacular," Baughman said.

Kate Robinson drove in two runs with a single and a sacrifice fly; Manuma doubled home two runs, and Gonzalez scored the go-ahead run after leading off the fourth with an opposite-field triple to right.

"This was a good present," said Gonzalez, who turned 19 yesterday.

UH coach Bob Coolen crafted the lineup after spending the night in his "happy chair," a La-Z-Boy that is located in the first-floor den of his Manoa condo.

"The happy chair is our recliner at home," Coolen said. "I got up at midnight, and I went down (to the den), and I sat on it. I thought about how to make a complementary lineup that we didn't have."

The answer was to move center fielder Kaulana Gould to the No. 2 spot, drop Gonzalez to No. 3, and bat third baseman Clare Warwick behind cleanup hitter Robinson. The lineup was successful. "The chair has become my little 'restitute,' I call it," Coolen said.

Read Tsai's blog at www.HawaiiWarriorBeat.com.

Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.