By dropping in the lineup, Clare Warwick picked up her game.

And, in the process, she boosted Hawai'i to a 3-2 softball victory over nemesis Nevada in the second game of a doubleheader yesterday.

The Wolf Pack won yesterday's opener, 3-1. Coupled with Friday's comeback victory, the Pack had extended its winning streak to seven games in this rivalry.

"They had our number," UH coach Bob Coolen said.

But that changed in the final game of this three-game Western Athletic Conference series, thanks to Warwick.

Warwick raced home from second on a wild pitch in the second inning, and drew an RBI walk in the third to give the Rainbow Wahine a 3-0 lead.

That was enough — barely — for freshman Stephanie Ricketts, who relinquished two unearned runs and struck out six to improve to 10-6. She has emerged as the ace of the pitching staff.

"Ricketts is carrying our team," UH coach Bob Coolen said.

Ricketts said: "I don't think I'm carrying them. I think when I'm having bad games, they're really helping me and carrying me."

Warwick, an All-America third baseman, provided the most support yesterday. Warwick has been in a slump the past couple of weeks, as her average fell from nearly .400 to under .300.

"No particular reason," Warwick said. "I mean, it's my senior year. I want to do well. That probably contributed to me being really anxious. Hopefully, I'm breaking out of it."

Warwick usually bats second or third. In yesterday's second game, she was moved to sixth.

"It was a good change," she said. "When you're in a rut, you'll try anything to get out of it."

In the second inning, Kanani Pu'u Warren was hit by a pitch, and Warwick followed with a double down the left-field line. Soon after, Mallary Darby threw a wild pitch, enabling Pu'u-Warren to score. When catcher Noelle Micka's throw eluded Darby covering the plate, Warwick raced home.

With the bases loaded in the third, Warwick walked on four pitches.

"I went into that at-bat thinking not to be anxious because she had thrown a lot of balls," Warwick said. "I was really looking for a fat strike. If anything, that was my goal."

Ricketts, who had squandered a 4-1 lead in Friday's loss, this time did not blink after the Wolf Pack scored two unearned runs in the fifth. With two outs and a runner on second, Coolen told Ricketts: "You can beat anyone. It's like you're having the burden of carrying that whole thing on your shoulders by yourself. We just need to help you. Let's get out of this right now, and we'll win the game."

Ricketts induced Britton Mudock to fly out to end the threat.