HONOLULU-- The long-awaited first pitch of the 2021 season for the University of Hawai'i softball team will finally take place this Saturday and Sunday, as Chaminade University will visit Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium for back-to-back doubleheader exhibitions.
| HAWAI'I (0-0, 0-0 Big West) vs. CHAMINADE (0-0, 0-0 Pac-12) |
| Date | Time |
Saturday Feb. 27, 12:00 p.m. HT and 2:00 p.m. HT and Sunday Feb. 28, 12:00 p.m. HT and 2:00 p.m. HT |
| Location |
Honolulu, O'ahu. - Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium |
| Television |
none |
| Live Stream |
none |
| Radio |
none |
| Live Stats |
HawaiiAthletics.com |
| Game Notes |
Hawai'i | Chaminade |
| Social Media |
@HawaiiSB  | #HawaiiSB | @hawaiisoftball  | Facebook  |
HEAD COACH BOB COOLEN
Overall record: 1,166-809-1 (35th season)
At Hawai'i: 1,015-809-1 (30th season)
SERIES VS CHAMINADE
Overall record: 15-0, Hawai'i
Streak: Hawai'i, 15 in a row
Last Hawaii win against Chaminade - Feb, 25th, 2000
FIRST PITCH
- The Rainbow Wahine are coming off a COVID-19 shortened season where they finished with a 9-15 record and didn't play a Big West Conference opponent. The prior season of 2019 saw the 'Bows notch a 30 win season at 33-16, the 21st of the Bob Coolen era.
- UH returns a large percentage of last season's lineup, including six players who recorded 20 or more starts. Headlining the group are senior Angelique "Cheeks" Ramos and junior Nawai Kaupe, each batted over .300 in 2019 and were top three in runs batted in on the team.
- One major loss from the 2019 squad was Callee Heen. The left-handed power hitter belted seven homers, drove in 23 runs, and accounted for a .358 average to lead the team.
- In the circle, UH welcomes back juniors Ashley Murphy and Isabella "Izzy" Dino, each starting in 11 games a year ago. Both pitchers saw significant playing time in 2020 and 2019. Dino has pitched in over 30 games in her career, while Murphy has seen action in 19.
- The 2021 roster is a relatively young one as head coach Bob Coolen and staff have nine freshmen on the team. Six of the nine are true newcomers, including Mya'Liah Betha, Hayley Johnson, Mackenzie La Neve, Piper Neri, Kayle Stone, and Chloee Agueda. The three remaining are Ka'ena Keliinoi, Jetta Nannen, and Rachel Sabourin. All three saw playing time in 2020.
- In early February, the Big West Conference unveiled its preseason coaches' poll, with UH slotted at No. 4 and four-time defending champion Cal State Fullerton sitting at the top.
NCAA EXTENDS EXTRA YEAR TO SPRING SPORTS ATHLETES
All returning college players were granted an additional year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic that ended the 2020 season six weeks into the season. All NCAA athletes (D-I, D-II and D-III), and junior college athletes keep their athletic standing from the 2020 season. Thus a freshman in 2020 is a freshman in 2021. A redshirt junior in 2020 stays a redshirt junior in 2021.
Hawai'i has decided to label all athletes as their athletic eligibility rather than advance their eligibility or add on additional confusing language such as "second-year freshman" or "sixth-year junior."
Incoming freshmen are as listed, freshmen.
#HawaiiSB
