OKLAHOMA CITY » Alex Aguirre has a knack for testing a pitcher's patience.

After getting behind in the count 1-2 against UCLA's Megan Langenfeld, Aguirre stayed alive by fouling off a pitch ... then another ... and another.

Some she pulled into the stands. Others she barely managed to tip away.

As the pitch count inexorably climbed, Aguirre punctuated her lengthy fourth-inning plate appearance by drilling delivery No. 17 into the bleachers beyond the left-field fence for a two-run homer, her second big fly of the Women's College World Series.

It was actually Aguirre's second such at-bat in as many weeks. She forced Alabama's Kelsi Dunne to throw 16 pitches before hitting a double to left in the opening game of the super regionals.

“;If that's what it takes for me to get on base, then that's what I'll keep doing,”; Aguirre said. “;In a way it helps me because I start seeing it even more. I'm getting my timing down. I'm getting my hands out.

“;Those are the moments that get me really excited. I was laughing to myself, I'm like, 'OK, come on this is enough.'

“;I think I frustrated the pitcher a little bit and she was curious because I think at least three of those would have hit me, but I was already going for the ball.”;

That was the lone highlight for the UH offense in a 5-2 loss as Langenfeld otherwise kept the Rainbow Wahine off balance with a screwball boring into the right-handed hitters and away from the lefties.

“;We usually hit the inside pitch really well, but we just weren't quite getting it there,”; Aguirre said.

DEFENSE SHINES

The Rainbow Wahine lost for just the second time when putting together an error-less defensive performance. And UH's glove work helped the Wahine stay in contention much of the evening.

Center fielder Kelly Majam saved a run in the sixth by making a diving catch of GiOnna DiSalvatore's line drive into the right-center gap, forcing Kaila Shull to hold at third.

The ball fell out of Majam's glove and home plate umpire John Stoodley initially ruled it a hit. But he was overruled by first-base ump Lori Bish, who was closer to the play and called it a catch.

“;I had it in my glove, and when I was pushing off to get up, that's when it came out,”; Majam said.

In the seventh, UH first baseman Amanda Tauali'i snared Andrea Harrison's line shot and fired to shortstop Jessica Iwata to double off Amy Crawford at second.

SWEET HOME, OKLAHOMA?

Yesterday's crowd of 8,694 set the WCWS single-session attendance record, and the roar elicited by Aguirre's homer demonstrated Hawaii's place as a crowd favorite in Oklahoma City.

“;I think they respect the way we play,”; Aguirre said. “;They want to see the heart, they want to see the passion and that's what we give them.”;

It's a long way from Alabama, where the Wahine dealt with a raucous Crimson Tide crowd.

“;I feel the crowd's for us now,”; pitcher Kaia Parnaby said. “;There's people out here from other states and they're cheering for you. So it's really great to see people in leis and cheering, 'Go 'Bows.' “;

WAITING GAME

Today's scheduled 3:30 p.m. (Hawaii time) start gives the Wahine some time to kill before suiting up to face Arizona or Washington in an elimination game.

UH head coach Bob Coolen said the players will have free time during the day to hang out with their families.

“;We don't sequester our players, we don't keep them holed up in the hotel. We let them enjoy the experience,”; Coolen said.

Prior to yesterday's 6 p.m. game, the team spent the morning visiting the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum, site of the 1995 bombing at the Murrah Building.

“;That was pretty intense,”; Majam said. “;All of the girls really took it to heart.”;