RIVERSIDE, Calif.--The University of Hawai'i softball team (13-14, 7-5 Big West) travels to take on UC Riverside (15-19, 6-6 Big West) this week in a three-game series. The series will start with a single game on Friday, April 15, 2022 at 12:00 p.m. HT followed by a doubleheader on Saturday, April 16 at the Amy S. Harrison Field in Riverside, Calif.
 

GAMES 25-27 - HAWAI'I (13-14, 7-4 BIG WEST) VS. UC RIVERSIDE  (15-19, 6-6 BIG WEST)
GAME SCHEDULE				Friday, April 15 at 3:00 p.m. HT  |  Saturday, April 16 at 10:00 a.m. HT (DH)
Location				Amy S. Harrison Field (600) - Riverside, Calif.
Live Video Stream				ESPN+
Live Stats				UCR Live Stats
Game Notes				Hawai'i  |  UC Riverside

HEAD COACH BOB COOLENCAREER RECORD: 1,112-755-1
HAWAI'I RECORD: 1,040-661-1

ALL-TIME RECORD vs. UC RIVERSIDEHawai'i holds a 30-6 all-time record against the Highlanders. Last season, UCR won the opener 2-1, but the 'Bows bounced back to win the doubleheader, 8-7 and 8-1 in 2021. UH was won six of the last seven games against UC Riverside.

LAST TIME OUT... After starting the Big West season by winning their first three conference series, the Rainbow Wahine were swept at home by Cal Poly for the first time since 2014. The Mustangs won the opening doubleheader, 7-3 and 12-2, then out-slugged the 'Bows 8-7 in the season finale. However, against Cal Poly, UH redshirt freshman designated player Hayley Johnson had a break out series, leading UH with a .429 batting average (3-for-7) with a pair of home runs, three RBI, a run scored and three walks. 
 
NEWS & NOTES

• TURNING TWO - Although the offense struggled against Cal Poly through most of the series, UH's infield continued to be a double play machine, recording a pair of DP's to bring their total to 17 total double plays turned in 2022. Currently, that ranks them No. 2 amongst all NCAA DI teams and first in the Big West. 
• THAT BALL SAID ALOOOHA! - Hawai'i also leads the Big West averaging 0.81 home runs per game which ranks them 81st in the NCAA. Last week vs. Cal Poly, 11 of UH's runs in the three game series were attributed to home runs. In all, the 'Bows cranked six home runs against the Mustangs--two each by Haley Johnson, Maya Nakamura and Nawai Kaupe.
• LEADER OF THE PACK - UH's Kaupe is now leading the Big West with seven home runs on the season. She now has hit 20 HR's in her UH career. Kaupe also is ranked second in the BWC with .44 stolen bases per game (12 total stolen bases). Cal State Fullerton's Hannah Becerra  leads the league averaging .67 stolen bases per game (26 total stolen bases). Kaupe's 12 stolen bases is the most in a season for a UH player since Kelly Majam was 12-for-12 in stolen bases in her senior season, 2013. Kaupe also leads UH with eight multiple-hit games and is second with four multiple RBI games.
• OFFENSIVE HIGHS & LOWS - Last week, the top of the order hit .306 in the three game series, Johnson going 3-for-7, Nakamura going 4-for-10, Kaupe and Ka'ena Keliinoi both going 3-for 11 and Izabella Martinez going 2-for-10.  The bottom half went a combined 1-for-23 for a .043 batting average.
• GOING STREAKING - Both Johnson and Keliinoi are on a career-high six-game hitting streak which ties them with Kaupe for the longest of the season. Nakamura is right behind with a five-game hitting streak and she leads the team with a seven-game reached base safely" streak.
• Despite losing both games last week, lefty starter Brianna Lopez continues to be ranked #2 in the BWC amongst pitchers with a 2.37 ERA. She is only behind UC Davis' Kenedi Brown, who has a 1.25 ERA. Lopez enters this week with a 7-6 overall record, 11 complete games and two shutouts. She leads UH with 97.2 innings pitched while holding opponents to a .238 batting average. She has recorded 42 walks to 67 strikeouts.
• Sophomore Maya Nakamura comes into the UCR series with a .346 batting average. She has team-highs of 27 hits, 19 RBI, an on-base % of .452 and 14 walks. She is second on the team with 13 runs scored five doubles, and a .603 slugging percentage.  Her two home runs against Cal Poly brings her career total to nine. Nakamura also leads UH with seven multiple-RBI games.
• MAKING AN IMPACT - Redshirt freshman Haley Johnson has made an immediate impact during the conference season. In the BWC, Johnson is hitting a lofty, .381 (8-for-21) in nine games played. She leads UH with two triples, a 1.000 slugging percentage. five of her eight hits have gone for extra bases--including three home runs (two vs. Cal Poly and one at UC San Diego). Overall she is hitting .310 (9-for-29) in 15 appearances.
• HAWAIIAN STYLE INFIELD—With the exception of the UH battery, in eight of the last 10 games, UH has started an all-local infield. First baseman Dallas Millwood earned all-state honors in 2016, '17, and '18 at Kamehameha Schools—Kapalama. Maya Nakamura was an all-state shortstop at Roosevelt High School in 2017 and '18. Shortstop Nawai Kaupe garnered all-state honors in 2017 playing for Maui High School, while third baseman Ka'ena Keliinoi was an all-state catcher in 2018 and '19.
• TRUE UTILITY—Throughout Ka'ena Keliinoi's career, she has been the epitome of being a "utility player" starting 70 games at seven different positions and playing where ever she can help the team best. This year alone, she has started 12 games in leftfield, 11 at third base, two in centerfield and one in rightfield. Last season, Keliinoi started 22 games at catcher, one at second base, one as designated player. In her true freshman year, she caught 11 games, played 11 at second base, one in rightfield and one as designated player during the COVID shortened season. This year, Keliinoi is third on the team with a .319 batting average and leads the team with six doubles and is tied for second with 14 RBI.
• BEHIND THE DISH - Freshman catcher Izabella Martinez has been solid behind the plate for UH. She has started 26 of 27 games in her rookie season and is hitting .250 (19-for-76) with six runs scored and nine RBI. She is a rarity as Martinez call her own pitches and has been a great receiver for all four pitchers used this season.
• THE ANCHORS—Only two Rainbow Wahine have started all 27 games this season--second baseman Maya Nakamura and shortstop Nawai Kaupe have started all of UH's games