Channeling her inner aggression, Audrey Andrade lined an inside pitch to center in the bottom of the seventh to drive in the winning run in Hawai'i's 3-2 softball victory over Oregon State yesterday.

The Rainbow Wahine finished 3-2 in their five-day Pepsi Malihini Kipa Aloha Tournament.

Stephanie Ricketts, who inherited a 3-0 count with two runners on base in the opening inning, did not allow a run the rest of the way to improve to 4-4.

"Steph was ready, and she was ready early, and that was the key," UH coach Bob Coolen said.

First baseman Amanda Tauali'i hit a home run in the third inning, and opened the way in the seventh when she was plucked by a pitch.

OSU wasted little time in getting to UH starter Courtney Baughman. After McKenna Lowe was hit by a one-out pitch, Audrey Roderfeld drilled a two-run homer.

Baughman then relinquished a single to catcher Stefanie Ewing, walked first baseman Erin Guzy and threw three consecutive balls to third baseman DeAnn Young.

Ricketts, who had a couple of minutes to warm up, was summoned.

Coolen said Baughman's right arm "tightened up."

Fortunately for the Rainbows, Coolen had predicted there might be early concerns.

"I texted (the pitchers) earlier in the day — who was starting, who was in first relief," Coolen recalled. "Steph knew to get ready early. That was something she did on her own. She did a good job."

Ricketts, a freshman from San Jose, Calif., said: "I knew when I went out there, I had to be ready in a few pitches. Luckily, I was."

Ricketts ended up walking Young. But she induced a grounder that forced out Ewing at the plate, and then struck out designated hitter Nikki Chandler to end the first.

In 6 2/3 innings, Ricketts allowed two hits and struck out six.

"Her drop (pitches) outside and her curveballs were working really well," catcher Katie Grimes said. "We tried to keep them off balance as much as possible, jamming them when we could on the inside corner."

OSU right-hander Paige Hall employed the same strategy, alternating a screwball, a floating change-up and a riser.

Coolen told his players: "Make the adjustment at the plate rather than sit back (in the batter's box). Move up, and hit it early."

With UH down 2-1 in the third, Tauali'i pulled a change-up over the fence in right-center.

"She has a nice riser, and I tried to concentrate on staying off that," said Tauali'i, who waited for the change-up.

With one out in the seventh, Tauali'i was hit by a 2-2 pitch.

"She likes to pitch inside, I guess," said Tauali'i, who was hit twice. Traci Yoshikawa ran for Tauali'i.

Designated player Makani Duhaylonsod then hit a grounder to deep short that Roderfeld could not field cleanly.

Richie-Anne Titcomb, pinch-hitting for Alex Aguirre, drew a walk to load the bases.

Julie Franklin then grounded to third baseman Young, who threw out Yoshikawa at the plate. Young, who made several good fielding plays, is the younger sister of major league players Dmitiri Young and Delmon Young.

That brought up Andrade, with the bases filled and two out. Andrade, who entered in the third as a pinch-hitter for Malamaisaua Manuma, grounded out and singled in her previous two at-bats. Five of the previous six pitches to Andrade, a right-handed hitter, were screwballs to the inside part of the plate.

She looked for a screwball.

"I walked into the batter's box, and told myself, 'If it's there, swing at it.' It was a screwball. It was inside."

Andrade's line single drove in Duhaylonsod with the winning run.

In other games yesterday, Radford beat Mississippi State, 3-1; Radford beat Oregon State, 3-2, and Florida Gulf Coast beat Santa Clara, 11-1.

The 'Bows next play Utah Wednesday in the Chevron Spring Fling Tournament.

Baughman said she expects to be ready.

If not, Coolen has worked on a backup plan. Coolen, who usually coaches third base, was in the dugout or bullpen when the Rainbows batted yesterday. He worked with Sarah Robinson and Duhaylonsod on pitching strategies.

"Sarah and Makani were ready to come in," Coolen said.