UH softball team falls to Cal 1-0

JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER.COM

Hawaii's Jessica Iwata throws Cal's Jolene Henderson out in the top of the second inning.

California pulled out a 1-0 win over the University of Hawaii softball team tonight behind a nine-strikeout performance by ace Jolene Henderson.

Henderson's two-hit shutout sent the No. 4/5 Golden Bears to their 21st consecutive win and No. 20/23 UH saw its eight-game winning streak end in its second game in the Chevron Spring Fling Tournament.

UH senior Kaia Parnaby allowed one run on nine hits and struck out five.

Cal led off each of the first three innings with singles and the Bears converted Danielle Henderson's single in the second into the game's lone run.

Henderson went to third when Jolene Henderson's bunt single found a gap between first and second. She then scored when Vanessa Alvarez's looping hit into left field fell in front of a diving Sharla Kliebenstein.

Jolene Henderson retired 15 of the first 16 batters she faced. The only blemish was Brynne Buchanan's single to center in the third inning. Henderson mixed speeds to keep the UH offense off balance and any solidly struck balls found their way to Bear infielders.

Keiki Carlos led off the bottom of the seventh with an infield single to bring the potential winning run to the plate. Henderson struck out Jessica Iwata, who won last year's meeting with Cal with a home run in the 10th inning, and Leisha Li'ili'i grounded into a fielder's choice. Henderson ended the game with her ninth strikeout.