HONOLULU – Hawai'i continues its two-week, six-game road trip when it heads up the California Coast for a three-game series at UC Santa Barbara starting Friday.
 
The Rainbow Warriors will look to right the ship after a 1-5 start to Big West play against a Gaucho squad that is currently No. 7 in the NCAA's RPI. UCSB holds a slight 28-27 edge in the all-time series, however, UH took three of the four matchups between the teams last year including a win in the Big West Tournament.
 

HAWAI'I (10-9, 1-5 Big West) at UC SANTA BARBARA (14-4, 4-2 Big West)
Dates & Times				Fri., Mar. 20 -- 1:35 p.m. HT Sat., Mar. 21 -- 12:05 p.m. HT Sun., Mar. 22 -- 10:05 a.m. HT
Location				Santa Barbara, Calif. -- Caesar Uyesaka Stadium
Radio				The New 1420 (Fri.) | ESPN Honolulu (Sat., Sun.)
TV/Live Stream				ESPN+
Live Stats				Friday | Saturday | Sunday
PDF Notes				Hawai'i | UC Santa Barbara
Social Media				@HawaiiBaseball  | @Hawaiibsb
Projected Rotations				Hawai'i Friday -- RHP Isaiah Magdaleno (2-1, 3.26) Saturday -- RHP Hekili Robello (3-1, 3.51) Sunday -- RHP Liam O'Brien (1-2, 2.86)	UC Santa Barbara Friday -- RHP Jackson Flora (5-0, 1.15) Saturday -- RHP Nathan Aceves (2-0, 3.70) Sunday -- RHP Kellan Montgomery (3-1, 4.23)

HEAD COACH RICH HILL
At Hawai'i: 139-90, 5th season
Collegiate Record: 1,218-828-4, 39th season

SERIES VS. UC SANTA BARBARA
UCSB leads, 28-27
Last Meeting: May 21, 2025 in Fullerton, Calif. (UH won, 6-2)

DID YOU KNOW?
Hawai'i is one of five teams who finished in the top 20 nationally in ERA in 2024 and 2025 to also be in the top 20 this year through the first month of the season. UH joins Arkansas, North Carolina, Oregon State and UC Santa Barbara as teams to accomplish that feat.
 
TROPICAL SWARM
The Rainbow Warrior pitching staff remains among the national leaders in a number of categories. UH is 11th in the country with a 3.11 ERA and 10th in walks allowed per nine innings (2.95). The 'Bows also sit in the top 20 nationally in strikeout-to-walk ratio (16th), WHIP (12th), shutouts (9th) and walk percentage (8th). Additionally, Hawai'i has held opponents to three or fewer runs in 11 of the 19 games, and six or fewer hits eight times.
 
'BOWS VS. 'CHOS
The Rainbow Warriors and Gauchos will meet for the final time as Big West rivals this weekend as UH prepares to move to the Mountain West next year. The teams have been evenly matched all-time, with UCSB holding a 28-27 edge in the series. The home team has dominated the series in recent years, with the 'Bows sweeping the Gauchos at home in 2023 before taking two of three last year. UCSB swept UH in Santa Barbara in 2024 and won two of three in 2022.
 
MIX & MATCH
Head coach Rich Hill has mixed and matched with his batting lineup throughout his time as the UH skipper. Hill has used a different batting lineup in all 19 games this season and 13 different defensive combinations. Additionally, 14 different position players have started a game this year. Last season, Hill used 51 different lineup combinations in 56 games after running out 45 different lineup combinations in 53 games in 2024 and 46 different lineups in 49 games in 2023.
 
MAGINIFICENT MAGS
Isaiah Magdaleno has solidified himself as the ace of the Rainbow Warrior pitching staff through the first month of the season. The junior made the move from closer last year, to Friday night starter this year and has posted a 3.26 ERA over 30.1 innings with 38 strikeouts to just nine walks in five starts. Magdaleno has worked at least five innings in all five outings and has given up just 21 hits all year while holding opponents to a .193 batting average.
 
» Third in the Big West with 38 strikeouts.
» Named Big West Pitcher of the Week after striking out 12 over 8.1 innings of two-hit ball, taking a shutout into the ninth inning before giving up an unearned run vs. Ball State on Feb. 26.
» Fanned nine over six innings of one-run ball the last time out at Long Beach State.
 
LOCK DOWN BULLPEN
When UH has given itself a lead, it has been able to lean on a solid bullpen over the first month of the season. The Rainbow Warriors are 9-0 when leading after six innings this year thanks to a number of key arms out of the bullpen. Tsubasa Tomii, Saul Soto and John Alkire II, among others, have all proven to be strong options in the late innings to either keep UH in games or hold on to leads.
 
» Tomii is 18th nationally 10 appearances and holds a 0.75 ERA and 14 strikeouts over 12.0 innings pitched with just six hits allowed. He has not allowed a run in his last nine outings.
» Soto has a win and a save in seven appearances with 11 strikeouts to just three walks.
» Alkire II has finished off four of UH's wins and has two saves with a 2.77 ERA and 13 strikeouts  over 13.0 innings pitched. He has not given up a run in seven of his eight appearances.
» Grant Garman has 15 strikeouts to four walks over 11.2 innings with a 3.09 ERA in seven outings.