HONOLULU--The University of Hawai'i softball team (16-9, 0-0 Big West) hosts its Big West home opener this week against UC Santa Barbara (13-8, 0-0 BW). The three-game series begins with a single game on Friday, March 17 at 6:00 P.M. HT followed by a doubleheader on Saturday, March 18 beginning at 2:00 P.M. HT.
| GAMES 27-29 - HAWAI'I (16-9, 0-0 BW) vs. UC SANTA BARBARA (13-8, 0-0 BW) |
| Date | Time |
Friday, March 17, 2023 | 6:00 P.M. HT
Saturday (DH), March 18, 2023 | 2:00 P.M. HT |
| Location |
Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium (1,200) - Honolulu, O'ahu |
| Promotions |
Great Prizes will be awarded for the winners of the popular "Ballpark Bingo." Also, T-shirts will be thrown into the stands during the fourth inning of every UH game. |
| Live Stats |
Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 |
| Game Day Rosters |
CLICK HERE |
| Game Notes |
Hawai'i (PDF) | UC Santa Barbara (link) |
| Social Media |
@HawaiiSB  | #HawaiiSB | @HawaiiSoftball  | Facebook  |
| Tickets |
Admission is FREE |
HEAD COACH: Bob Coolen
Overall record: 1,136-768-1 (37th Season)
At Hawai'i: 1,064-675-1 (32nd Season)
UC SANTA BARBARA (13-8, 0-0 BIG WEST)
Series Record: UH, 56-28
Streak: UCSB won 1 (last year, UH won the first two games but fell 0-1 in the series finale on the road)
Head Coach: Jo Evansa (UCSB-First Season/Career-37th-Texas A&M 26, Utah 7, Colorado State 4)
NEWS & NOTES
- Through the pre-season gauntlet, Hawai'i's 17-9 (.654 win %) overall record has them sitting atop the Big West standings. UC Davis is in second with a 13.7 record (.650) and this week's opponent, UC Santa Barbara is 13-8 (.619). It is UH's best start since the 'Bows went 19-9 to start the 2019 season.
- Thus far, Hawai'i's offense has out-hit their opponents, .288-to-.223 and have outscored their opponents, 137-to-79 in 26 games. In the circle, UH's pitchers have a combined 2.64 team ERA while their opponents have a 5.74 ERA.
- Currently, the Rainbow Wahine lead the Big west in six team categories statistics--double plays per game (.48); doubles (29), home runs per game (1.00), offensive walks (87), slugging percentage (.479), and in pitching , shutouts (6).
- Rookie pitcher Key-Annah Campbell-Pua eaned her second Big West Freshman of the Week award after going 2-1 last week with a 1.45 ERA in 19.1 innings pitched. Se allowed just five run on 11 hits in four appearances (two starts and two in relief) with two walks and nine strikeouts. The rookie held opponents to a .169 batting average. In UH's mercy-rule win over Niagara on Thursday, Campbell-Pua fired a one-hit shutout and faced the minimum 15 batters for the five inning game. She did not allow a walk while fanning three Purple Eagles. In her other start of the week, she gave up two runs vs. Iowa State in seven innings, and in the tourney finale vs. the Cyclones, she tossed the final 5-1/3 innings in relief giving up two runs on two hits with a walk and two strikeouts.
- Last week, senior centerfielder Cira Bartolotti led UH with a .375 batting average in seven games with a double and a home run included in her team-high six hits. She also recorded a team-best .444 on-base percentage
- Overall, junior transfer shortstop Xiao Gin leads Hawai'i with a .338 average. Gin, who has been UH's leadoff hitter for all 26 games, also leads UH with 22 runs scored and 20 walks and is second on the squad with a .479 on-base percentage. She also leads UH with eight multiple-hit games.
- Junior utility player Mya'Liah Bethea continues to lead the league in home runs (8), home runs per game (.31), and slugging percentage (.694). Overall, first baseman Bethea is hitting .319 (23-for-72) with 16 runs scored. She is tied for second on the team with 19 RBI. She also had a team-best 14-game reached-base safe streakk.
- Brianna Lopez has picked up where she left off last year, leading UH with a 1.73 ERA and an 8-3 record in 13 appearances. She has fired three shutouts and has held opponents to a .215 batting average in 73.0 innings with 25 walks to 55 strikeouts.
- In all, seven Rainbow Wahine have started all 26 games thus far this season--C/DP Izabella Martinez, 1B/LF Mya'Liah Bethea, 2B Maya Nakamura, SS Xiao Gin, 3B/LF Ka'ena Keliinoi and CF Cira Bartolotti.
