Coming off of another dramatic ninth-inning comeback, Hawai'i closes its two-week California road trip with another important series at No. 13 UC Irvine Thursday through Saturday.
 
The Rainbow Warriors will take on a top-15 team for the second time this year and also have another chance to build their postseason resume against the No. 30 RPI team. The Anteaters lead the all-time series, 41-14, and have won or swept the last five series. UH's last series win over UCI came in 2018.
 

HAWAI'I (25-10, 10-8 Big West) at #13 UC IRVINE (25-9, 13-2 Big West)
Dates & Times				Thursday, Apr. 17 -- 3:00 p.m. HT Friday, Apr. 18 -- 3:00 p.m. HT Saturday, Apr. 19 -- 10:00 a.m. HT
Location				Irvine, Calif. -- Cicerone Field at Anteater Ballpark
Radio				ESPN Honolulu (Thurs., Sat.) | CBS 1500 (Fri.)
Live Stream				Thursday | Friday | Saturday
Live Stats				Here
PDF Notes				Hawai'i | UC Irvine
Social Media				@HawaiiBaseball  | @Hawaiibsb
Projected Rotations				Hawai'i Thursday -- RHP Itsuki Takemoto (2-4, 4.44) Friday -- LHP Sebastian Gonzalez (3-0, 3.60) Saturday -- RHP Cooper Walls (2-2, 3.08)	UC Irvine Thursday -- RHP Riley Kelly (4-0, 2.11) Friday -- RHP Trevor Hansen (5-0, 3.78) Saturday -- TBD

HEAD COACH RICH HILL
At Hawai'i: 119-70, 4th season
Collegiate Record: 1,198-808-4, 38th season

SERIES VS. UC IRVINE
UC Irvine leads, 41-14
Last Meeting: UCI won series, 3-0 (Mar. 28-30 in Honolulu)

DID YOU KNOW?
The Rainbow Warriors have enjoyed major success under head coach Rich Hill in the months of April and May, going 64-31 in the final two months of the season under his leadership. UH is also 47-18 after Tax Day (Apr. 15) under Hill.
 
7-8-9 IS 'BOW WARRIOR TIME
Hawai'i has made a habit of winning the late innings throughout its 25-10 start to the season. The Rainbow Warriors are outscoring teams 85-48 from the seventh inning on, highlighted by a 30-6 advantage in the ninth inning. Additionally, UH is 16-0 when leading after the sixth inning and has won nine games when tied or trailing heading into the final three frames.
 
7th-Extra Inning Scoring
7th Inning – 30-22
8th Inning – 19-19
9th Inning – 30-6
Extra Innings – 6-1
 
TROPICAL SWARM
After leading the nation in ERA in 2024, the Rainbow Warrior pitching staff has again positioned themselves as one of the elite groups nationally. UH is 16th in ERA (3.94), ninth in BB allowed/9 innings (3.27) and 11th in WHIP (1.23). UH is also 24th in K/BB ratio (2.62) and 24th in opponent batting average (.233). Liam O'Brien and Isaiah Magdaleno are each in the top five in a major pitching category, with O'Brien leading in hits allowed per nine innings (3.31) and opponent BA (.117) and Magdaleno third in K/BB ratio (10.00).
 
NINTH (AND LATER) INNING MAGIC
Hawai'i is off to a 25-10 start to the season thanks to some dramatic victories. The Rainbow Warriors have won nine times in the ninth inning or later, highlighted by a nation-leading six walk-offs, one ahead of both Louisville and Georgia. Additionally, the six walk-off wins are the most in a season by the program since at least 2002. Seven different players have been responsible for delivering the go-ahead runs in the ninth inning or later, with the six walk-offs coming courtesy of six different players.
 
LIGHTS OUT BULLPEN
One of the keys to UH posting the nation's best ERA a year ago was the bullpen, and through the first half of the season the relievers again are a strength of the pitching staff. Rainbow Warrior relievers have accounted for 59.7 percent of the innings pitched and have held opposing batters to a .220 batting average. Additionally, the 'Bows are 16-0 this season when leading after six innings. The UH bullpen has also posted a number of impressive stats during the first 35 games of the season.
 
Notable Bullpen Stats          
W-L Record – 19-2
ERA – 3.42
Innings Pitched – 192.1
Strikeout-to-Walk – 197-63