HONOLULU--The University of Hawai'i softball team opens the 2025 season hosting the Bank of Hawai'i Paradise Classic from Thursday, Feb. 6 - Saturday, Feb. 8 at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. Coming to open the season in Honolulu are Santa Clara, Saint Louis and Southern Indiana.
  

BANK OF HAWAI'I PARADISE CLASSIC (Feb. 6-8, 2025) - Hawai'i (BW), Santa Clara (WCC),
Tournament Schedule				Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025 3:30 p.m. HT - Saint Louis vs. Southern Indiana 6:00 p.m. HT - Hawai'i vs. Santa Clara Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 12:00 p.m. HT - Santa Clara vs. Saint Louis 2:30 p.m. HT - Santa Clara vs. Southern Indiana 5:00 p.m. HT - Hawai'i vs. Saint Louis 7:00 p.m. HT - Hawai'i vs. Southern Indiana Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025 10:00 a.m. HT - Bracket Gm1 - Seed #2 vs. Seed #3 12:30 p.m. HT - Bracket Gm2 - Seed #1 vs. Seed #4 3:00 p.m. HT - Bracket Gm3 - Loser Gm #1 vs. Loser Gm. #2 5:30 p.m. HT - Bracket Gm4 - Winner Gm #1 vs. Winner Gm #2
Location				Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium (1,200) - Honolulu, O'ahu
Promotions				Bank of Hawai'i is the tournament sponsor of the Bank of Hawai'i Paradise Classic and will provide a Bank of Hawai'i fanny pack stuffed with 4 game vouchers for the winners of the popular "Ballpark Bingo." Ti Leaf rally towels will be thrown into the stands during the fourth inning of every UH game.
Live Stats				HawaiiAthletics.com
Game Day Rosters				Paradise Classic Game Day Roster
Game Notes				Hawai'i
Social Media				@HawaiiSB  | #HawaiiSB | @HawaiiSoftball  | Facebook
Tickets				Admission is FREE

HAWAI'I RAINBOW WAHINE (0-0, Big West)Head Coach: Bob Coolen (34th Season)
Record at UH: 1,100-716-1 (34th season)
Overall Record: 1,172-809 (39th season)
2024 Record: 20-26; Big West: 13-12

SANTA CLARA BRONCOS (0-0, West Coast Conference)Head Coach: Gina Carbonatto (Sixth Season); Overall record: 90-115
Series Record: UH leads 12-3
Streak: UH has won the last eight games vs. Santa Clara. 
Last meeting: UH defeated the Broncos in the Hawai'i Spring Fling Tournament, 6-3 on March 3, 2023
2024 Record: 30-23; WCC Record: 9-7

SAINT LOUIS BILLIKENS (0-0, Summit League)Head Coach: Christy Connoyer (15th Season); Overall record: 353-348
Series Record: UH leads, 1-0
Streak: UH won one
Last Meeting: UH's only game against the Billikens came in Las Vegas, Nev in 2009. The 'Bows defeated Saint Louis, 8-3 on Feb. 14, 2009.
2024 Record: 31-22; Summit League Record: 16-10

SOUTHERN INDIANA SCREAMING EAGLES (0-0, Ohio Valley Conference)Interim Head Coach:  Sue Kunkle (24th Season); Overall Record: 674-465-1
Series Record: First Meeting
2024 Record: 25-22; Ohio Valley Conference Record: 16-11

NEWS & NOTES

• The Rainbow Wahine were picked to finish fourth in the Big West Preseason Coaches' Poll. UH received 52 total points to rank fourth in the Big West Preseason Coaches' Poll. UH is right behind UC Santa Barbara who garnered 59 points for third place. Defending BW champions Cal State Fullerton received one first place vote and 63 total points for second place while Long Beach State had nine first place votes and 81 votes for the top spot. 
• Senior catcher Izabella Martinez was one of 11 players voted to the preseason team. Last year, Martinez started all 46 games behind the plate and finished the season hitting .298 (39-for-131) with six doubles and 22 RBI. She drew a team-best 19 walks and was second on the team with nine multiple-hit games. She was ranked 12 in the NCAA DI throwing out 15 runners trying to steal. Martinez earned all-Big West honors both as a sophomore and junior.
• Head coach Bob Coolen enters his 34th and final season at the helm of the UH program. Thirty-six years ago, Coolen came to UH as an assistant coach to then head coach Rayla Allison. He is now the second longest tenured coach at UH behind sailing's Andy Johnson, sailing. Coolen's 1,172 wins is ranked No. 30 in the All-Time NCAA Winningest Coaches list (by victories) which includes all collegiate divisions past/present. He is ranked No. 20 in NCAA All-Time Division I winningest coaches by victories.
• The "new look 'Bows" are young with 13 returning letterwinners and 14 newcomers--including nine freshmen. UH is looking to fill the shoes of departing seniors from the Class of 2024, which includes 4/5 of the infield with first baseman Dallas Millwood, second baseman Maya Nakamura, shortstop Xiao Gin, and third baseman Ka'ena Keliinoi all concluding their collegiate careers last year. Add leftfielder Mya'Liah Bethea to the mix and UH will have to fill five spots. Returning starters are Martinez at catcher, Chloe Borges in centerfield/pitcher, and Maycen Gibbs in rightfield.
• Martinez, a three-year starter at catcher returns as UH's top hitter. Last year she hit .298 (39-for-131) with six doubles and 22 RBI. She led UH with 19 walks. For her career, she is hitting .302 in 140 games played. She has amassed 118 hits, 15 doubles and 75 RBI.
• Last season, Borges emerged as the starting centerfielder as well as a right-handed pitcher. She started 39 games in centerfield and hit .269 for the season with two double, eight home runs and a team-high 30 RBI. As a pitcher, she made 13 appearances and three starts in the circle. She threw 33.0 innings and finished the season with a 5.52 ERA.
• The pitching staff is led by senior Addison Kostrencich returns as UH's No. 1 starter after transferring from Long Beach State last season. In 2024, she recorded a 12-11 overall record with a 3.67 ERA in 131.2 innings pitched. She fired a couple of complete-game shutouts and made 26 appearances with 24 starts last season. Making debut this week in the circle is sophomore transfer Macy Brandl who transferred after an All-American season at Fullerton College (JC) last year. 
• Look for transfers to make some noise this week. Four local products returned to play as a Rainbow Wahine this year--Milan Ah Yat is sophomore utility player who transfer from Loyola Marymount. She prepped across the street at Univesity Laboratory School before becoming a Lion. Carys Murakami is a junior transfer from CSUN. Prior to becoming a Matador, Murakami is a graduate of Maryknoll School. Liliana Thomas is a transfer who began her collegiate career at Arizona State and last was at LMU last year. Thomas went to Maryknoll School in Honolulu. 'Ewa Beach-native Teiah Keliiholokai also transferred home after one year at Ablilene Christian.  The fifth transfer Is Brandl who is looking to be part of UH's one-two punch at starting pitcher with Kostrencich.