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UH softball team upsets No. 1 Cal on Iwata’s home run

Jessica Iwata’s two-run home run in the bottom of the 10th inning gave the University of Hawaii softball team a dramatic 3-1 upset of top-ranked California tonight at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

UH pitcher Stephanie Ricketts and Cal’s Jolene Henderson both threw shutouts through nine innings before the Golden Bears scored the game’s first run on an error by Iwata in the top of the 10th.

UH third baseman Sarah Robinson singled to center in the bottom of the 10th and a throwing error to the plate allowed Kayla Wartner to score the tying run. Iwata then blasted her fifth home run of the season to send UH to the win in the Chevron Spring Fling Tournament.

UH, ranked 18th and 19th in this week’s national polls, improved to 23-1. Cal — ranked first in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25 and second in the USA Today/NFCA poll — took its first loss of the season and is now also 23-1.

Ricketts (13-1) struck out 12, walked seven and gave up seven hits while stranding 17 Cal runners on base.

Henderson (13-1) had 16 strikeouts, walked none and faced just two batters over the minimum through nine innings.

The Wahine continue tournament play on Friday against No. 21/22 Texas A&M at 6:30 p.m.

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