The Hawaii softball team concluded a challenging week of games with an impressive 3-2 record, securing its place in the upcoming Big West tournament in Fullerton, California.
The team participated in five games within the Big West conference, including a three-game series against Cal Poly and makeup matches against Cal State Northridge and UC Santa Barbara.
With a season record now standing at 29-17 and 15-9 in the Big West, UH has ensured a place in the inaugural six-team tournament next month.
This will be especially gratifying for outgoing head coach Bob Coolen, who reached a significant career milestone of 1,200 wins, a tally accumulated over five years at Bentley University and 34 seasons at Hawaii.
Coolen expressed his delight in a message while returning home, emphasizing his long-standing desire for a championship tournament in the Big West, a wish that has now come to fruition.
The week began on a low note for the Wahine, as they fell 10-5 to Cal State Northridge on Wednesday, making up for a game previously postponed due to rain on March 14.
However, the team’s fortunes turned around as they traveled to San Luis Obispo on Friday for a doubleheader against UC Santa Barbara and Cal Poly at Cal Poly’s facility.
Displaying resilience, the Wahine orchestrated come-from-behind victories in both games, defeating UCSB 5-4 thanks to a walk-off bases-loaded walk from Jamie McGaughey.
Against Cal Poly, Hawaii produced a dramatic seventh-inning rally to score four runs, contributing to Coolen’s milestone 1,200th win.
Saturday saw the Wahine face Cal Poly again in a scheduled doubleheader, where they split the games, losing the first 6-2 but bouncing back to win the second 5-0.
Although Hawaii lost the season series against CSUN with a 2-1 result, they succeeded against UCSB, claiming that season series also with a 2-1 record.
Currently, the Matadors and Gauchos are both competitive for favorable seeding in the upcoming tournament.
Macy Brandl emerged as a standout pitcher for Hawaii during the week, amassing a 2-1 record over the five games, while Addison Kostrencich finished 1-1.
Reflecting on the week, Coolen noted the challenges faced with back-to-back doubleheaders during conference play, alongside the tension surrounding their neutral-site UCSB game following the loss to CSUN.
Despite the grueling schedule, he appreciated the team’s ability to come out with a winning record and expressed pride over the two series victories.
Looking ahead, Coolen will receive recognition after Friday’s game as part of the celebrations of reaching his coaching milestone.
Additionally, UH will honor five senior players—Chloe Borges, Addison Kostrencich, Izabella Martinez, Alyssa Nakagawa, and Liliana Thomas—following Saturday’s doubleheader.
Their achievements this season, combined with the promise of the upcoming tournament, have set a positive tone for the team as they approach their final series against UC San Diego.
image source from：https://spectrumlocalnews.com/hi/hawaii/sports/2025/04/28/hawaii-softball-clinch-big-west-tournament-berth-cal-poly-2025
