HONOLULU ? The Kansas University softball team couldn’t overcome a rough first inning, surrendering four early runs in a 6-2 loss to No. 17 Northwestern in the Jayhawks’ final outing in Hawaii.

The Wildcats (15-6) used four singles and a passed ball to score four times in the bottom of the first and knock out KU starter Kassie Humphreys after just one out.

They padded that total against reliever Serena Settlemier on a two-run homer by Jamie Dotson in the third.

Meanwhile, KU (15-14) again struggled to make the most of its scoring opportunities, stranding seven base-runners.

The Jayhawks pushed across their first run in the fourth, when Jessica Moppin doubled, moved to third on a passed ball and scored on Humphreys’ RBI groundout.

They closed out their scoring in the seventh, when Destiny Frankenstein’s RBI triple scored Heather Stanley, who reached on a walk.

KU will return to action Saturday when it opens Big 12 Conference play against Texas A&M in College Station, Texas.