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HONOLULU-The University of Hawai'i softball team opens its 31st season with the 2016 Oceanic Time Warner Cable Paradise Classic, Feb. 11-13. Ole Miss, St. Mary's (CA), and UMKC will all be coming to Honolulu to kick of the year.

Last season, the Rainbow Wahine finished strong, winning five of their last six games to finish in third place in a tight Big West Conference race. Hawai'i finished 2015 with a 32-22 overall record and a 13-8 mark in conference.

The Rainbow Wahine return 12 letterwinners and are led by a solid senior class of five-Keiki Carlos, Sarah McAndrew, Tayana Mata, Dori Ann Sugai, and Kiani Wong. Carlos-a four-year starter in the outfield-is one of three all-Big West players returning. Last season, she started all 54 games in the outfield and led Hawai'i with 38 runs scored (career-high), 51 hits (tied with Leisha Li''ili'i), 11 doubles, and six stolen bases. She racked up a team-high 14 multiple-hit games and was second on the team with eight multiple-RBI games. In the Big West, Carlos hit .288 (18-for-61) with a team-high 15 runs scored and four doubles. She was second on the team with four home runs, 13 RBI and 21 hits.

Junior first baseman/pitcher Heather Morales was named to the BWC second team after leading UH with a team-high .331 batting average (50-for-151) overall. She started all 54 games this season with four doubles, seven home runs and 32 RBI-all career-highs. Morales hit .295 in conference (18-for-61) and finished second on the team with 13 RBI. She tallied four runs with a double, two home runs and six RBI.

All-Big West first-teamer, sophomore pitcher Brittany Hitchcock will anchor the pitching rotation. Last season, she finished the season strong with an 18-7 overall record and a 9-2 conference record. For her efforts, Hitchcock also earned a spot on the league's all-freshman team as well. Overall, she recorded 15 complete games with four shutouts in 32 appearances with 29 starts. She recorded a team-low 2.37 ERA in 174.1 innings pitched. She struck out 85 batters while walking 40 while holding opposing hitters to a .271 batting average. In conference, Hitchcock started 11 games and made 12 appearances with eight complete games. She tossed 76.0 innings with 14 walks and 37 strike outs.

Joining Hitchcock on the mound is returning junior Kanani Aina Cabrales. In her first season at UH as a sophomore transfer last year, Aina-Cabrales recorded a 13-15 overall record with a 2.82 ERA. She made 37 appearances with 24 starts and 15 complete games-including four shut-outs. She fired 158.2 innings and had 95 strike outs with 45 walks. Also joining in the fold are two freshmen—Jennifer Iseri and Naomi Monahan.

The Paradise Classic is one of six tournaments that the Rainbow Wahine will play in this season--including five of which they will host in Honolulu.

Oceanic Time Warner Cable Paradise Classic Information
Who: Hawai`i, St. Mary's (CA), UMKC, Ole Miss
Where: Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium (1,200)
When: February 11-13, 2016
Promotions: Oceanic Time Warner Cable is the tournament sponsor and will provide great prizes for the winners of the popular "Ballpark Bingo." Also, Oceanic t-shirts will be thrown into the stands during the fourth inning of each UH game
Live stats: Live in-game stats will be available at HawaiiAthletics.com
Coaches: Hawai'i head coach Bob Coolen is in his 25th season at UH with an 897-518-1 record. Overall he is in his 30th year as a head coach with a 969-611-1 overall record. Series History: Hawai'i holds a 13-3 record against St. Mary's with UH winning the last three games. Last season, the Gaels also opened the season here in Honolulu, falling twice to the Rainbow Wahine. UH is 3-0 against UMKC (Missouri-Kansas City). In 2012, the 'Bows defeated the Kangaroos in Los Angeles, Calif. in a neutral site game held at Loyola Marymount. In 2012, UMKC opened their season in Honolulu in the same Paradise Classic tournament. UH won twice against UMKC—once in the tournament and once as a single game after the tournament. Hawai'i is 2-0 against Ole Miss. Both wins came in the 2013 Paradise Classic.
 
Tournament Schedule
Thurs., Feb. 11, 20161
3:30 pm – UMKC vs. Ole Miss
6:00 pm - Hawai'i vs. St. Mary's

Friday, Feb. 12, 2016
12:00 pm - St. Mary's vs. Ole Miss
2:00 pm - St. Mary's vs. UMKC
4:00 pm - Hawai'i vs. Ole Miss
6:00 pm - Hawai'i vs. UMKC

Sat., Feb. 13, 2016
9:30 am - #2 Seed vs. #3 Seed
11:30 pm - #1 Seed vs. #4 Seed
1:30 pm - Loser G1 vs. Loser G2
3:30 pm - Winner G1 vs. Winner G2