HONOLULU – Following a 7-1 start to the season, Hawai'i will look to keep the early momentum going when it closes its season-opening homestand against Northeastern Friday through Monday at Les Murakami Stadium.
 
The Rainbow Warriors will take on the perennial Northeast power Huskies for the first time ever, with 6:35 p.m. first pitches Friday, Saturday and Monday and a 1:05 p.m. start on Sunday.
 

HAWAI'I (7-1, 0-0 Big West) vs. NORTHEASTERN (3-2, 0-0 Colonial)
Dates & Times				Friday, Feb. 28 -- 6:35 p.m. Saturday, Mar. 1 -- 6:35 p.m. Sunday, Mar. 2 -- 1:05 p.m. Monday, Mar. 3 -- 6:35 p.m.
Location				Honolulu, O'ahu -- Les Murakami Stadium
Radio				ESPN Honolulu (Sun., Mon.) | CBS 1500 (Fri., Sat.)
TV/Live Stream				Spectrum Sports/ESPN+ (Monday only)
Live Stats				Friday | Saturday | Sunday | Monday
PDF Notes				Hawai'i | Northeastern
Social Media				@HawaiiBaseball  | @Hawaiibsb
Projected Rotations				Hawai'i Friday -- LHP Sebastian Gonzalez (0-0, 6.75) Saturday -- RHP Itsuki Takemoto (1-1, 3.27) Sunday -- RHP Liam O'Brien (1-0, 0.00) Monday -- RHP Cooper Walls (0-0, 5.87)	Northeastern Friday -- LHP Jordan Gottesman (0-0, 1.23) Saturday -- LHP Will Jones (2-0, 0.00) Sunday -- RHP Aiven Cabral (1-1, 3.38) Monday -- LHP Jack Bowery (0-0, 0.00)

HEAD COACH RICH HILL
At Hawai'i: 101-61, 4th season
Collegiate Record: 1,180-799-4, 38th season

SERIES VS. NORTHEASTERN
First Meeting

DID YOU KNOW?
Liam O'Brien is currently the only pitcher in the country to have thrown at least 10 innings this year and not yet allow a hit. The senior has worked 10.1 innings over four appearances and has given up just one unearned run.
 
MANOA MAGIC
Through the first two series of the season, Hawai'i has continued its strong play at home highlighted by a number of wins in close games. Despite having a 16-game home winning streak snapped last Friday vs. Wichita State, the Rainbow Warriors are still 21-2 in their last 23 home games dating back to April 2 of last year. UH has walked off three times in its first eight games at Les Murakami Stadium this year and has won four games when tied or trailing at any point in the sixth inning or later.
 
MAINTAINING MOMENTUM
Hawai'i has carried over the momentum it built over the final month and a half of last season when it finished as one of the hottest teams in the country down the stretch. The Rainbow Warriors own the nation's best record since Apr. 21, 2024 at 23-2 (.920 win pct.), ahead of teams such as defending NCAA Champion Tennessee and Big West title winners UC Santa Barbara.
 
WALK-OFF WARRIORS
Hawai'i is off to a 7-1 start to the season thanks to some dramatic walk-off victories. The Rainbow Warriors have walked off three times already through the first eight games, winning twice via walk-off on opening weekend against Marshall before taking the series opener against Wichita State in extra innings. Draven Nushida capped a furious UH comeback with a pinch-hit single in the ninth inning on opening night before Shunsuke Sakaino delivered the next day to cap another come from behind win. Elijah Ickes then delivered in the 10th inning of last Thursday's series opening win over the Shockers.
 
COMING UP CLUTCH
The Rainbow Warriors have come through in clutch situations so far in 2025, putting up strong numbers with two outs and with runners in scoring position. UH has scored 56.9 percent (29-of-51) of its runs with two gone in an inning while hitting .366 as a team with two outs. The 'Bows are also batting .357 with runners in scoring position, 53 points higher than their overall team batting average.
 
LIAM + FREDDY = DOMINATION
A pair of transfer arms have gotten off to dominant starts over their first two weekends in a Rainbow Warrior uniform. Liam O'Brien and Freddy Rodriguez have combined to allow no earned runs over 20.1 innings pitched with 20 strikeouts to just four walks. The pair have appeared in four games each and given up just two unearned runs and two hits.
 
» O'Brien is the only pitcher in the country to have pitched at least 10 innings and not allow a hit yet.
» O'Brien worked 5.1 hitless innings in his first start as a 'Bow on Sunday, striking out six to get the win.
» Rodriguez pitched a 6.2 scoreless innings in the Wichita State series, striking out seven with no walks.
» O'Brien and Rodriguez are first and second in the conference in opposing batting average.
 
ROLL IT
Hawai'i ranks among the nation's leaders in double plays turned through the first two weeks. UH is fifth in the country and first in the Big West with 10 doubles plays over the first eight games. The Rainbow Warriors turned seven double plays this past weekend against Wichita State, rolling up two in each of the final three games of the series. Of the 10 double plays, five have been inning-ending while four have been of the 6-4-3 variety and three have gone 4-6-3.