UH Vs. Seattle U (2/5/26)

She's 1-0 as the new head coach! After 34 years with Bob Coolen as head coach, Panita Thanatharn began her tenure as the new Hawaiʻi Softball Head Coach with a 2-1 victory over the Seattle University Red Hawks at Rainbow Wāhine Softball Stadium to begin the 2026 Bank of Hawaiʻi Paradise Classic on Thursday. Both Hawaiʻi and Seattle did their scoring in separate innings. Nevada transfer and local girl Taryn Irimata pitched for UH. Returnee Cierra Yamamoto began the first inning for UH with a walk with one out logged. UH scored their only two runs when Milan Ah Yat drilled an RBI single down left field that brought in Northridge transfer Rhea Furtado, and Yamamoto for an early 2-0 lead! After two scoreless innings, Seattle got on the board in the fourth inning with its lone run! Mia Powell juiced an RBI double to left center that brought in Abbie Fales from first base! Irimata quickly got acquainted on the pitcher's mound and in the final inning, slammed the door on Seattle U with a game-winning double play! Seattle U's Powell began the seventh with a single up the middle. Irimata caught a line drive from Seattle U's Brooklyn Jones and dished the ball to first base to tag out Powell! Both teams combined for seven hits overall with UH getting four of them. UH will continue the 2026 Bank of Hawaiʻi Paradise Classic with a doubleheader on Friday, Feb. 6. They will take on North Dakota first at 3 PM and follow up with Pacific at 5:30 PM HST at RWSS!