The scenario was set up for another dramatic finish.
This time it was California ace Jolene Henderson who headed off the field in celebration.
The last of Henderson’s nine strikeouts extinguished the University of Hawaii softball team’s hopes of another late-inning rally and the Golden Bears pulled out a 1-0 victory over the Rainbow Wahine Thursday night in the Chevron Spring Fling Tournament.
A year ago, Henderson was in the circle when Jessica Iwata’s 10-inning home run lifted UH to a 3-1 upset of Cal. On Thursday, she stranded the tying run on first in the bottom of the seventh inning and the Bears, ranked fourth and fifth in this week’s polls, picked up their 21st consecutive win.
“We put ourselves in a position to win that game and that was nice to see,” UH head coach Bob Coolen said.
Henderson held the No. 20/23 Rainbow Wahine to three hits to win a duel with UH senior Kaia Parnaby, who gave up nine hits and struck out five while keeping UH within striking distance all night.
The UH offense mustered just one hit through six innings, but energized the crowd at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium when Keiki Carlos led off the bottom of the seventh with an infield single to bring Iwata to the plate.
Henderson got the better of the matchup this time, getting a strikeout on a check swing. Leisha Li‘ili‘i grounded into a fielder’s choice for the second out and Henderson struck out Sharla Kliebenstein to end the game and UH’s eight-game winning streak.
“Two great pitchers, you expect it’s going to be a low scoring affair and it possibly could be a hit or an error that makes the difference in the game,” Cal coach Diane Ninemire said. “I was really happy our team was able to keep their composure in the bottom of the seventh inning when they got their leadoff runner on and some great hitters coming up. Jolene did an outstanding job of really competing against their great hitters.”
Cal took the lead in the top of the second, converting Danielle Henderson’s leadoff single into the game’s lone run.
She 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 Kliebenstein for an RBI double.
Parnaby kept the Bears off the scoreboard the rest of the way with help from the UH defense. Right fielder Brynne Buchanan had two assists, throwing out Cheynne Cordes at second in the first inning and nailing Breana Kostreba at first after she’d rounded the base on an errant throw.
“Nine hits and one run, I’m going to put that back to the defense,” Parnaby said. “They played great behind me.
“That was a good game for us, it’s a loss but what can you do. They’re a good hitting team, they’re a good defensive team too.”
Henderson mixed speeds to keep the UH hitters off balance and retired 15 of the first 16 batters she faced. The only blemish in that stretch was Buchanan’s single to center in the third inning.
Henderson improved to 18-2 this season and 3-1 against UH in her career.
The tournament continues today with UH (19-6) facing Syracuse at 6 p.m. and Baylor at 8.
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At Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium
Cal (22-2) 010 000 0 — 1 9 0
Hawaii (19-6) 000 000 0 — 0 2 2
Jolene Henderson and Lindsey Ziegenhirt. Kaia Parnaby and Kayla Wartner. W—Henderson. L—Parnaby.
Leading hitters—Cal: Danielle Henderson, 2-3; Vanessa Alvarez, 2B, RBI.
Thursday’s early scores
Baylor 5, Utah 2
Baylor 5, Syracuse 0
Today’s games
California vs. Syracuse, 4 p.m.
Syracuse vs. Hawaii, 6 p.m.
Baylor vs. Hawaii, 8 p.m.
