UH softball team completes sweep of UC Davis
Hawaii runner Kelly Majam tries to score but is tagged out by UC Davis catcher Kelly Schulze in the 5th inning of the UC Davis vs Hawaii softball game at the UH softball stadium in Manoa. (Bruce Asato/basato@staradvertiser.com)
The University of Hawaii softball team opened today’s rain-delayed doubleheader with UC Davis with a 2-1 victory then completed the series sweep with a 6-2 win in the finale.
UH pitcher Kaia Parnaby struck out six and allowed four hits in the first game. Freshman Loie Kesterson then earned her first collegiate win with a complete-game performance and the No. 18/22 Rainbow Wahine improved to 28-7 overall and 6-0 in Big West play.
The first game of today’s doubleheader at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium was scheduled to start at 2 p.m., but was pushed back three hours by heavy rain.
Once the game got started, UH jumped ahead when Jessica Iwata’s popup to shallow right field fell in safely, allowing Kayla Wartner to score from second in the bottom of the first.
UC Davis answered in the second as Christa Castello’s soft liner fell just beyond a drawn in UH infield to score pinch-runner Gretchen Diekman with the tying run.
The Wahine reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the fifth when Wartner drilled a single into right field to score Brynne Buchanan from second.
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It appeared UH would add to the lead in the sixth. Pinch-hitter Tara Anguiano singled to center with two runners on. But Kaile Nakao was caught off of second base for the third out of the inning. The home plate umpire ruled the out was recorded before Jazmine Zamora crossed the plate, keeping the UH lead at 2-1.
UC Davis put the tying run on base with two out in the seventh but UH right fielder Keiki Carlos ended the game by throwing Janelle Gussif out at first.
UH opened the series finale with a first-inning power display. Kelly Majam led off the bottom of the first inning with a home run to second. Leisha Li’ili’i later launched a three-run homer that landed on the roof of the batting cages beyond right field.
UC Davis cut into the lead on Krista Bava’s two-run single with two out in the second inning.
UH extended the lead to 5-2 on Majam’s RBI double off the fence in left-center in the bottom of the fourth. The Wahine added another run when Li’ili’i doubled to right-center in the sixth to score Iwata.
Kesterson held UC Davis to two hits over the final five innings to earn the win.
