HONOLULU--The University of Hawai'i softball team will host their annual Hawai'i Fall Invitational under first year head coach Panita Thanatharn. The three-day, five team tournament will be played on Thursday, Nov. 6, Friday, Nov. 7 and Sunday, Nov.9 at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. For the first time in awhile, all three Division II Hawai'i schools--Chaminade, Hawai'i-Hilo and Hawai'i Pacific--plus Fullerton College will be competing for the Fall Invitational title.

"We are beyond excited to have all the Hawai'i schools and Fullerton College competing in our fall tourney!" says Thanatharn. "It's an awesome opportunity for our players to face other competitive programs in the fall to learn and grow as a program. The chance to face different opponents while share our pride for the state of Hawai'i with the local programs will allow us to celebrate the spirit of competition in our local softball community."  The Rainbow Wahine return 17 letterwinners--including six starters and two pitchers from last year's squad which posted a 33-20 overall record and  a 17-10 Big West mark to finish the conference season in a four-way tie for second. This year's team welcomes in seven newcomers including three transfers and four freshmen. The 'Bows return three of the top five hitters from a year ago. Junior first baseman Jamie McGaughey hit .320 (54-for-157) and led the Big Wes with 14 home runs. Senior second baseman Carys Murakami finished her first season at UH hitting just a shade under .300, posting a .295 average (46-for-156) with a team-high 28 runs scored, while junior shortstop Milan Ah Yat finished with a .277 batting average. All three Rainbow Wahine--McGaughey, Murakami and Ah Yat--started all 53 games last year.

The pitching staff returns Macy Brandl and Millie Fidge. Brandl led UH with a 17-8 record and a 3.33 ERA. She tossed 16 complete games with six shutouts as a sophomore. Senior Fidge was primarily used as a reliever making 20 appearances with just one start. she posted a 4.07 ERA  while recording a 2-1 overall record. The Rainbow Wahine welcome in three new pitchers--true freshman Maryn Macneil, sophomore transfer Taryn Irimata, and senior transfer Hannah Pitts.


Hawai'i Fall Invitational Schedule
Thursday, Nov. 6
1:00 p.m. HT - Chaminade vs. Fullerton College
3:30 p.m. HT - Fullerton College vs. Hawai'i
6:00 p.m. HT -  Chaminade vs. Hawai'i

Friday, Nov. 7
1:00 p.m. HT - Hawai'i Pacific vs. Fulleton College
3:30 p.m. HT - Fullerton College vs. Hawai'i
6:00 p.m. HT - Hawai'i Pacific vs. Hawai'i

Sunday, Nov. 9
10:00 a.m. HT - Fullerton College vs. Hawai'i-Hilo
12:30 p.m. Ht - Hawai'i-Hilo vs. Hawai'i
3:00 p.m. HT - Hawai'i Pacific vs. Chaminade