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The University of Hawaii softball team opened its Big West Conference schedule by sweeping a doubleheader against Cal State Northridge today.
The Rainbow Wahine (24-7) held off the Matadors’ seventh-inning rally to win today’s opener 5-4. UH completed the sweep with a 5-3 victory at Matador Diamond in Northridge, Calif.
No. 20/23 UH and Cal State Northridge (14-20) conclude the series with a single game on Sunday.
UH senior Kaia Parnaby (22-3) earned complete-game wins in both games today and sophomore first baseman Leisha Li’ili’i went 4-for-7 with two home runs in the doubleheader.
In today’s first game, UH center fielder Kelly Majam opened the scoring in the top of the first with her 10th home run of the season. Brynne Buchanan’s RBI double in the second gave UH a 2-0 lead. Li’ili’i added an RBI double in the fifth and her two-run homer in the seventh proved to be the difference in the game.
Parnaby struck out 13 and walked five. She took a shutout into the bottom of the seventh before CSUN loaded the bases with two out. Sydney House then hit a grand slam to bring the Matadors to within a run. But Parnaby got a popout to end the game.
In the second game, CSUN took the lead on Mikayla Thielges’ RBI double in the bottom of the first. Li’ili’i then tied the game with a home run to lead off the second inning.
The Wahine took the lead in the third when Keiki Carlos tripled to center field to score Kayla Wartner. UH loaded the bases with two out and Kaile Nakao delivered a two-run single. Tara Anguiano followed with another single to score Li’ili’i and give UH a 5-1 lead.
CSUN got a run back in the bottom of the third when Thielges scored from third when Parnaby was called for an illegal pitch. Another illegal pitch call in the fourth brought Leann Lopez in from third and cut UH’s lead to 5-3.
The Matadors threatened to creep closer in the sixth. With runners on first and second, Mia Pagano singled to left field. Tiffini Lucero tried to score from second but Buchanan’s throw to the plate was in time for the out.
Parnaby retired CSUN in order in the seventh and UH secured the series win.
