IRVINE, Calif.--University of Hawai'i softball senior shortstop Nawai Kaupe broke out in a huge way to lead the Rainbow Wahine to a three-game conference sweep over Cal State Bakersfield this past weekend. Kaupe hit .750 (6-for-8) with a phenomenal 1.500 slugging percentage and an .833 on-base percentage. She also scored two runs, drove in eight runs and drew three walks to claim her first career Big West Softball Field Player of the Week award. She is the first Rainbow Wahine to earn the award since Nicole Lopez on April 29, 2019.
 
In the series opener against the Roadrunners, Kaupe went 2-for-3 with a double, a sacrifice bunt, and three RBI en route to a 10-3 win.
 
The Wailuku, Maui product went 1-for-2 at the plate. Her lone hit for the first game of the doubleheader was an RBI-double in the first inning. She later scored in the same inning on an RBI single by Izabella Martinez. In the third inning, Kaupe drew a bases loaded walk to drive in Mya'Lia Bethea for her second RBI in a 10-1 five-inning win. 

In the series finale, Kaupe was perfect at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a double, a home run, two runs scored, and three RBI. Kaupe alone accounted for four of UH's five runs--scoring on her first inning home run and on a Ka'ena Keliinoi double in the sixth, and she drove in Brittnee Rossi twice, with her homer in the first and an RBI-double in the sixth to propel the 'Bows to a 5-1 Hawai'i victory and second series sweep of the season. In all, Kaupe  racked up a double in each of the three games.

Overall Kaupe leads Hawaii with 33 hits, 20 runs scored, and nine home runs. She also has a team-high 13 stolen bases, which is the most since Tara Harbert swiped 14 bases in 2005. Currently, Kaupe is hitting .337 overall with a team-highs in both slugging percentage (.643 ) and on-base percentage (.449). She also leads UH with 10 multiple-hit games and is tied with Maya Nakamura with a team-high seven multiple-RBI games.