Golden Bears slip by Wahine

Bob Coolen is a stickler for the rules.

So when the Hawaii softball coach saw home plate umpire John Park walking toward him, he knew what was coming.

Trailing California by two runs with runners on second and third and two out in the bottom of the seventh inning, UH freshman Sarah Muzik lined a single just over the glove of Cal shortstop Lindsay Rood to score Breanna Ojala from third.

Pinch-runner Alia Monges made the turn around third and when the ball was bobbled in the left field, Coolen gave her a nudge in the back toward the plate and Monges slid in with the apparent tying run.

“It was just a reflex, like ‘go,’ ” Coolen said, “and the minute I touched her I knew that’s not right.”

Park saw the contact between coach and player and Park called Monges out due to aiding the runner, ending the game and giving Cal a 3-2 win on the opening night in the Outrigger Spring Fling Tournament on Wednesday at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

“They did what they needed to do and unfortunately they don’t have a chance to win because of that mistake on my part and I can’t take it back,” Coolen said.

The unusual conclusion left the Rainbow Wahine at 12-11 heading in a matchup with Baylor, ranked 21st and 22nd in the national polls, today at 6 p.m. The Bears (15-4) opened the tournament with a 4-2 win over North Dakota State on Wednesday.

A night after a run-rule loss to Coastal Carolina, the Wahine positioned themselves to knock off a Pac-12 opponent for the first time in five attempts this season.

UH freshman Jennifer Iseri gave up 10 singles, struck out two and walked none in a gritty complete-game effort and kept the Wahine close against a Cal offense that entered the night hitting a collective .327.

“I was definitely a little bit nervous, I can’t deny that,” Iseri said of her first Pac-12 matchup. “I really worked on just hitting my spots and I just knew I had to move the ball and change speeds. My mentality coming into the game was to try to get ahead on them because I know they’re very disciplined hitters. So I just wanted to attack the zone and make sure I move the ball like crazy.”

Cal freshman Kourtney Shaw held UH to three hits, struck out four and walked two in five innings and picked up the win. Katie Sutherland-Finch got the final six outs with the game-ending call giving her a save.

UH took the lead in the bottom of the second inning when Ulu Matagiese hit her second home run of the season, the first surrendered by Shaw.

The Golden Bears (11-7) tied the game in the fourth when speedy Jazmyn Jackson reached on an infield single, stole second, advanced on a groundout and scored on Kobie Pettis’ grounder to the right side.

The Golden Bears then pieced together three singles in the fifth to take the lead. With runners on second and third, Kylie Reed’s grounder up the middle snuck through the infield to score both runners.

“For them to get two runs out of the deal was kind of unfortunate because (Iseri) pitched well enough to win that ballgame,” Coolen said.

Down by those two runs, the Wahine opened the bottom of the seventh with Ojala’s single off the fence in center field and Rachael Turner’s double to right center. Sutherland-Finch struck out the next two and Muzik followed with the single only to have the game end on the final call.

Kourtney Shaw, Katie Sutherland-Finch (6) and Annie Aldrete. Jennifer Iseri and Heather Cameron. W—Shaw. L—Iseri. Sv—Sutherland-Finch.

Leading hitters—Cal: Lindsay Rood, 2-4; Kylie Reed, 2 RBIs; Kobie Pettis, RBI; Khala Taylor, 2-3; Annie Aldrete, 2-3. Hawaii: Sarah Muzik, 2-3, RBI; Ulu Matagiese, 2-2, HR; Rachael Turner, 2B.

Wednesday’s early game

Baylor 4, North Dakota State 2

Today

North Dakota State vs. California, 3:30 p.m.

Baylor vs. Hawaii, 6 p.m.

Friday

Baylor vs. California, 1 p.m.

Baylor vs. North Dakota State, 3:30 p.m.

North Dakota State vs. Hawaii, 6 p.m.

Saturday

California vs. North Dakota State, 10 a.m.

Baylor vs. Hawaii, noon

North Dakota State vs. Hawaii, 2 p.m.