HONOLULU, Hawaii - Feb. 12 - Southern Utah went toe-to-toe with the No. 8/13 University of Hawaii for the second time of the Oceanic Time Warner Cable Paradise Classic, but fell to the Rainbow Wahine, 5-1, on a home run only to come back to post a 1-0 victory over the Texas State Bobcats to finish third at the tournament.  The split decision leaves the T-Birds with an overall record of 1-4 on the year.

Southern Utah opened the day facing the University of Hawaii and was down 1-0 after the first inning as the Rainbow Wahine cashed in a three opening walks to take the early lead.  However a home run over the left field fence off the bat of Haylee Hoch in the top of the second inning tied the game at 1-1.

Neither team gained much of an advantage over the next three frames, despite a total of ten walks surrendered by SUU starter Danielle Axe as the Mesa State transfer struggled to find the umpire's zone during the game.  Axe did record four strikeouts during the afternoon, but with the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth inning surrendered a grand slam home run to Hawaii's Melissa Gonzalez in the eventual 5-1 defeat.

In the second game of the day, Southern Utah used a lead-off double by freshman Madison Resley to manufacture its only run of the contest in the top of the fourth inning.  Resley moved to third on a single by Ariel Morbeck in the next at bat and then moved to home on a Kadi Henderson fielder's choice two batters later.

SUU starter Heather Black went the distance, pitching seven innings while allowing only five Texas State hits and no runs with two walks and four strikeouts.  The victory was Black's first of the year as she improved to 1-2 on the young season.

SUU softball will be back in action next weekend when the Thunderbirds take part in a tournament hosted by New Mexico State University.  The T-Birds are anticipated to face Sam Houston State, Oklahoma, New Mexico State and Louisiana Monroe in the three-day tournament from Friday, February 18 through Sunday, February 20.