Gauchos Set for Exciting Showdown in Hawai’i Against Rainbow Wahine
HONOLULU, Hawai’i – The anticipation is building as the UC Santa Barbara Softball team (24-18, 13-5 Big West) prepares to take on the Hawai’i Rainbow Wahine in what promises to be a thrilling series. After a remarkable fifth consecutive Big West series victory last weekend against Long Beach State, the Gauchos are keen to maintain their upper hand in the Big West standings, facing a challenging opponent that is poised just 2.5 games behind them.
Last Weekend Recap: A Milestone Series Win
In an electrifying weekend, the Gauchos secured their first series triumph over Long Beach State since 2017. They showcased their talent, winning both games of Saturday’s doubleheader but facing a setback in the series finale on Sunday. A standout performer, Emily Carr, emerged from her batting slump with an impressive 5-for-10 (0.500) showing, which included not one, but three home runs and a whopping 10 RBIs. Her highlight-reel moment? A spectacular grand slam in the third inning of the final game, narrowly bringing her team back within striking distance of the Beach.
Scouting Report: Opponent Preview – Rainbow Wahine
Hawai’i enters the series with a solid 25-14 overall record and an 11-6 conference tally. The Rainbow Wahine, alongside the Gauchos and Cal State Fullerton, are among only three teams boasting 20 or more wins this season.
Offensively, Hawai’i is led by the formidable Izabella Martinez, who carries an impressive .357 batting average through 39 games. As the team’s driving force, she leads in hits, doubles, walks, and on-base percentage. Martinez earned the title of Big West Field Player of the Week on April 7, following her stellar performance against UC Riverside. Not to be overlooked, Jamie McGaughey, a sophomore powerhouse, greets pitchers with a .336 average, including 10 home runs, eight doubles, and 30 RBIs.
On the defensive end, Hawai’i showcases a strong pitching rotation, featuring Addison Kostrencich and Macy Brandl, both of whom have pitched over 100 innings this season. Together, they’ve combined for 222.1 innings out of a total of 265.1, maintaining a commendable sub 3.75 ERA and striking out a combined 107 batters.
Standings Snapshot
As of now, the conference standings have UC Santa Barbara and Cal State Fullerton tied for the top spot, while Hawai’i closely trails. Here’s a quick look:
- T-1. UC Santa Barbara (13-5)
- T-1. Cal State Fullerton (13-5)
- 3. Hawai’i (11-6)
- CSUN (10-7)
- T-5. Long Beach State (9-9)
- T-5. UC Riverside (9-9)
- UC San Diego (8-10)
- UC Davis (7-11)
- Cal State Bakersfield (6-12)
- Cal Poly (3-15)
Don’t Miss a Minute of the Action!
Fans can catch every exhilarating moment as all three games will be broadcast live on ESPN+. The series kicks off with a single game on Friday at 9 p.m. Pacific time, followed by an action-packed doubleheader on Saturday starting at 5 p.m. Pacific time.
Join the Gauchos on their quest to secure their position as they battle it out in the sun-soaked paradise of Hawai’i, and let’s see if they can continue their upward trajectory in the Big West!
