Game NotesHONOLULU-The University of Hawai'i softball team opens its 30
th season with the high-powered Oceanic Time Warner Cable Paradise Classic, Feb. 5-7. No. 4 Oklahoma, No. 25 DePaul and St. Mary's will all be coming to Honolulu to kick of the 2015 season.
Hawai'i is looking to bounce back after recording just the third losing season under head coach
Bob Coolen. UH finished 2014 with a 22-28 overall record and was seventh in conference with a 7-14 record. This year, Coolen enters his 24th season at Hawai'i with a team balanced with youth and experience. The 'Bows are led by senior first baseman
Leisha Li'ili'i who finished third in the league with a .401 overall batting average. Li'ili'i had a team-high 55 hits, 15 home runs, 39 RBI, and 34 walks.
Keiki Carlos hit .296 in her sophomore season with a team-high 11 doubles and 36 runs scored. In the pitching circle redshirt freshman
Brittany Hitchcock, sophomore transfer
Kanani Aina Cabrales and sophomore
Heather Morales are all slated to see time in the circle. Morales is UH's lone returning pitcher. Last season as a freshman, she went 12-11 with a 5.11 ERA and 54 strike outs in 145 innings pitched.
Several newcomers look to make an impact for UH this season, including Aina Cabrales who is a transfer from Georgia Tech who on offense hit .333 (33-for-99) with four doubles, a home run and 18 RBI. As a pitcher, she appeared in 23 games with 15 starts with a 7-10 record and 5.70 ERA.
Rachel Lack is a utility player who can catch, play third base or outfield from Sydney, Australia. Sheis the 14th player in Coolen's Aussie pipeline of players. Lack recently was selected for the second time to play on the Australian National Team this summer and was named New South Wales Player of the Year. Second baseman
Tayana Mata is a junior transfer who earned All-America honors while playing at Sierra College. She hit .458 with a slugging percentage of .944 and fielding percentage of .917 and helped to lead her team to a state title.
Oceanic Time Warner Cable Paradise Classic InformationWho: Hawai`i, No. 4 Oklahoma, No. 25 DePaul, St. Mary's (CA)
Where: Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium (1,200)
When: February 5-7, 2015
Promotions: Oceanic Time Warner Cable is the tournament sponsor and will provide great prizes for the winners of the popular "Ballpark Bingo."
Live streaming video: A video link will be available at HawaiiAthletics.com
Live stats: Live in-game stats will be available at HawaiiAthletics.com
Coaches: Hawai'i head coach
Bob Coolen is in his 24th season at UH with an 865-496-1 record. Overall he is in his 29th year as a head coach with a 937-589-1 overall record. DePaul's Eugene Lenti is in his 34th season as a head coach all at DePaul. He has a career record of 1,214-581-6. Oklahoma's Patty Gasso is in her 25th season as head coach and 21st with with Sooners. She has an overall career record of 1,140-355-3 and a 979-296-2 record at OU. St. Mary's Jessica hanaseth-Rodgers is in her ninth season with the Gaels. Her career record there is 162-253,
Series History: UH holds a 6-3 record against DePaul. In 2012, the Blue Demons lost twice to UH, 5-0 and 9-2. Hawai'i has a 3-2 advantage over Oklahoma. Their last meeting was a 4-1 win over the Sooners on Feb. 24, 2011 in Honolulu. And, UH has an 11-3 series record over St. Mary's. Last season, UH split two games against the Gaels, falling 2-3 on Feb. 21 then winning 6-0 on Feb. 23 in Honolulu.
Tournament Schedule
Thurs., Feb. 5
3:30 pm - No. 25 DePaul vs. No. 4 Oklahoma
6:00 pm - Hawai'i vs. St. Mary's
Friday, Feb. 6
12:00 pm - St. Mary's vs. DePaul
2:00 pm - St. Mary's vs. Oklahoma
4:00 pm - Hawai'i vs. DePaul
6:00 pm - Hawai'i vs. Oklahoma
Sat., Feb. 7
10:00 am - #2 Seed vs. #3 Seed
12:00 pm - #1 Seed vs. #4 Seed
2:00 pm - Loser G1 vs. Loser G2
4:00 pm - Winner G1 vs. Winner G2
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