OKLAHOMA CITY » Until last night, Kanani Pu'u-Warren had never had the chance to be on the receiving end of the Hawaii softball team's birthday tradition.

For the previous three years, her June birthday meant the Rainbow Wahine season had ended by the time her turn rolled around. But UH's run to the Women's College World Series allowed her to finally get her “;birthday slaps.”;

After UH's season-ending 5-1 loss to Arizona, the team formed a tunnel along the right-field line at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium and Pu'u-Warren crawled through, with each player giving her a whack as she passed.

“;It means so much to get 'em on this field. I'm sure a lot of people saw it because the camera guy was on me, and I'm glad I was able to experience it,”; said Pu'u-Warren, her hair and jersey smeared with green cupcake frosting.

“;It's bittersweet because I didn't want it to end this way, but all good things come to an end some time.”;

Pu'u-Warren was among five UH seniors whose careers closed last night as a remarkable run to Oklahoma City finally ended. The Wahine will also bid farewell to catcher Katie Grimes, catcher Tasha Pagdilao, first baseman Amanda Tauali'i and second baseman Traci Yoshikawa.

Yoshikawa homered in her final collegiate game and Pu'u-Warren made a diving catch in right field in the fourth inning.

Pu'u-Warren will return to Hawaii today along with much of the team and will start an internship as a medical technologist at Kuakini Medical Center.

“;I just hope to see everyone here next year,”; she said. “;I know that's the new goal.”;

History repeats

There were two common threads in Hawaii's only two College World Series appearances—Eric Okasaki and Arizona.

It's been 30 years since the UH baseball team's trip to Omaha, when Okasaki accompanied the 1980 Rainbows as the team trainer.

He filled that same capacity for the Rainbow Wahine this year, making him the only member of the school with ties to both magical seasons.

“;Although (the 1980 Rainbows) were always underdogs, that didn't make a difference,”; Okasaki said earlier in the week. “;That's the kind of feeling this team has.”;

And just as in 1980, it was Arizona that ended UH's national championship hopes last night.

Aches added up

Hawaii's starting nine had remained fairly intact since the start of the conference season. A rare change came last night when shortstop Jessica Iwata aggravated a leg injury and had to leave the game after making a tough throw to end the second inning.

She missed an at-bat and sat out the third inning in the field before returning in the fourth. Dara Pagaduan, who had seen mostly pinch-running duties since midseason, entered the game at second base, with Yoshikawa moving to shortstop for an inning.

All-America third baseman Melissa Gonzalez also left the game early. UH head coach Bob Coolen said she had been dealing with shoulder and elbow injuries as well as migraines.

“;Our players are banged up after 28 days on the road,”; Coolen said.

'Til we meet again

Iwata figures to be back in Oklahoma City this summer as a member of the USA Softball Women's Futures National Team. The team is scheduled to play in the World Cup of Softball at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium in July.

“;It's been a long season and it's always everyone's dream to be able to play in this stadium and I felt we really deserved to be here,”; Iwata said.