Kate Robinson relied on off-speed pitches to slow down New Mexico State, 4-0, and help Hawai'i salvage a doubleheader split last night at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

"Kate really did a nice job," UH coach Bob Coolen said of the senior right-hander who pitched a two-hitter. "We needed that one."

In the first game, which was the Western Athletic Conference opener for both teams, Kim Watson limited the Rainbows to four hits.

"We couldn't string together any hits in the first game," said Robinson, who is the Rainbows' leading hitter. "We knew we had to make adjustments, and let everyone know that first(-game) team was not our team."

Indeed, the Rainbows had to scrap their original plans for the first game. Courtney Baughman was scheduled to pitch. But at 4:15 p.m., 45 minutes before the start of the game, she was not at the ballpark.

"I am not going to lie," Coolen said. "It was on everyone's mind: 'Where's Courtney?' "

In a panic, Coolen was unsuccessful in trying to reach Baughman. Coolen then told Jessica Morton to warm up.

Believing the first game was to start at 6 p.m., Baughman showed up at 4:30 p.m.

"I don't know what schedule she was looking at," Coolen said. "She just put a total distraction on the first game. To tell Jess 45 minutes before the game, 'You're starting,' wasn't fair. I told Jess that. I told Courtney, 'That's not fair to everyone who was worried about you. Your mother was crying.' It was a sad event.

"I had mixed emotions," Coolen added. "I was glad she was safe. I was mad she got the wrong memo and everyone else had the right memo."

Morton said it was "a little stressful" to pitch without having time to formulate a game plan. Morton is a power pitcher; Baughman uses a wide repertoire of pitches.

Aggie first baseman Ashley Maroda scored three runs, including one on a towering home run to lead off the fourth inning. That was more than enough for Watson, who struck out five to improve to 13-12.

"The second game," Robinson said, "we had to raise the tempo. We're not about to lose to this team twice."

The Rainbows seized control with a three-run third. Robinson led off with a ground single to center, and went to second on Clare Warwick's bunt single. Brandi Peiler then bunted down the first-base line. First baseman Hoku Nohara fielded the ball, pirouetted and overthrew Stephanie Herrera who was covering first base. Robinson scored and Warwick raced to third. Shortstop Valana Manuma then singled home Warwick.

Two outs later, Manuma scored on Kaulana Gould's single to center.

"They kind of rallied in the third inning and kind of flustered us a little bit," NMSU coach Kathy Rodolph said.

The Aggies' lineup usually features six left-handed slap hitters. One of them, second baseman Stephanie Herrera, who entered as the WAC's second-leading hitter, was pulled after the third inning of the second game. Rodolph said Herrera was not injured. Rodolph said she wanted to give other players some game experience.

With or without Herrera, Robinson had little trouble. Robinson's best pitch — the inside dropball — is an effective counter-attack to contact hitters. Against dropballs, an aggressive hitter is prone to grounders and a late swinger is vulnerable to popups.

Robinson struck out seven, and induced seven groundouts and six popups. She relinquished one flyout.

"We played good defense," Coolen said, noting Audrey Andrade made her debut at first base. She had eight putouts.

Coolen said Robinson will pitch in today's final game of the series, which starts at 5 p.m.