March 14, 2012

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Score: No. 1/2 Cal 3, No. 21/22 Texas A&M 0
Site: Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium (Honolulu)
Records: Cal 22-0, Texas A&M 16-8
Cal Leaders: Jolene Henderson (7.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 11 SO); Elia Reid (2 RBI); Britt Vonk (1 RBI)
Next Cal Game: Thursday vs. No. 6 Texas, 7 p.m. PT

Final Stats

HONOLULU -With a three-run fifth inning and one-hitter performance by pitcher Jolene Henderson, the No. 1/2 California softball team earned a crucial 3-0 win over No. 21/22 Texas A&M on Wednesday afternoon at Hawaii's Chevron Spring Fling.

The Golden Bears move to 22-0 overall, making them the only undefeated team on Oahu after No. 6 Texas defeated previously perfect Hawaii 4-0 on Tuesday evening. Texas A&M drops to 16-8. With the win over the Aggies, the Bears are now 5-11 against A&M in the all-time record. Cal is now 3-0 against ranked opponents this season.

Jolene Henderson held a no-hitter until the bottom of the sixth, when a mishit failed to roll foul, giving Emily Albus a single. With the complete-game shutout, Henderson improves to 13-0 overall. Her impressive 11 strikeouts were two shy of her 2012 season high of 13.

"I wasn't hitting well, so I had to help the team out somewhere else," Henderson said of her one-hitter outing in the circle. "The team really came together, making plays and having a we will win mentality."

Frani Echavarria led off the top of the fifth with a walk, moved to second when Jamia Reid put the ball over a charging third baseman. With a double steal, Echavarria moved to third and Reid to second just in time for a single through the right side by Britt Vonk, plating Echavarria.

"With runners at second and third with no outs, I just tried to put the ball in play," Vonk said. "I hit the change and it went through the ¾ hole! Our team did a great job overall. We stayed together and executed at the right times."

Elia Reid absolutely nailed a bunt single to second, scoring her sister Jamia Reid and Vonk.

"I came up to bat looking to help my team out anyway I could," Elia Reid said. "Coach told me to get the bunt down, so I did and the runners did the rest. The team did a great job executing today."

Elia Reid paced the Bears with two RBI while Britt Vonk started the rally with the RBI single.

Aggie hurler Mel Dumezich allowed three earned runs on six walks and six walks.

Next Time on the Diamond:

March 15 will see a doubleheader of No. 6 Texas (19-1) at 7 p.m. and No. 19 Hawaii (21-0) at 9:30 p.m. Marist (6-9) is the sole opponent for March 16 (2 p.m.) before the Bears close their time in paradise March 17 versus Winthrop (11-10) at 4:30 p.m. All times Pacific. Fans can follow the all games via Live Stats and Twitter. Please note that the live stats links do not go live until the first pitch and the live stats link remains the same for all games.