An era has come to an end.

The Rainbow Wāhine Softball team concluded the 2025 home season with two wins out of three against the UC San Diego Tritons at Rainbow Wāhine Softball Stadium. They would lose Friday's game, 4-1, but they would rebound to sweep their doubleheader, 7-2, and 4-3, on Saturday. At the same time, five seniors were honored, as was Head Coach Bob Coolen, who was retiring after 34 years.

Game 1 (5/2/2025): 4-1, UCSD

The Wāhine Softball team had visions of standing alone in second place in the Big West standings, but they had to sweep UCSD to do so. Unfortunately, that did not happen.

UCSD struck first with a sacrifice fly from Haley Garcia that brought in teammate Morgan Eng in the first inning. They would not score again until the sixth inning.

UH kept coming up empty and had a chance to pick off a run in the second inning but were unsuccessful. They got two runners on base in the bottom of the second, but an Izabella Martinez flyout to left field left Ellyanna Cinzori and Chloe Borges stranded.

The Tritons tacked on two more runs in the top of the sixth due to a Zara Wasserman home run to center field. That home run brought in Jaden Hill to make it 3-0 UCSD.

UH had a chance to score in the sixth inning and loaded the bases, but Liliana Thomas was picked off due to two miscommunicated pitches that turned out to be strikes instead of the fourth ball with Borges at bat. Borges was finally walked to load the bases again, but a strikeout to Larissa Goshi thwarted UH's rally.

UH gave up another run to UCSD in the final inning, but they were held to a single run in that seventh inning. Milan Ah Yat hit an RBI single to right center that was enough to bring in Keely Kai. UH needed a home run to get closer, but a Jamie McGaughey flyout to left field, and a ground out to Thomas ruined their chances.

Doubleheader Game 1 (5/3/2025): 7-2 UH

On Saturday, UH rebounded to sweep their doubleheader, which began with a 7-2 win over UCSD.

After a scoreless first inning, the Tritons struck first with an Alexis Jimenez solo home run to left field; however, UH was ready when it was their turn.

Ellyanna Cinzori hit an RBI single down the left field line, which was enough to bring in teammate McGaughey and tie the score at 1-1.

After a scoreless third inning, UCSD responded with another run in the fourth. Lily Hermosillo hit an RBI double down the left field line that was enough to bring in Jimenez to break the tie.

UH was ready when it was their turn. The 'Bows loaded the bases on singles from Cierra Yamamoto, Borges, and Goshi. Martinez was walked, which brought in Yamamoto to tie the score at 2-2. A batter later, UH would take the lead for good when Carys Murakami hit a fielder's choice to the shortstop and got to second on the throw; it was enough to bring in Borges and Goshi to make it 4-2, UH.

An inning later, Martinez juiced another single to left field that was enough to bring in Borges and Yamamoto. It was now 6-2, UH.

In the sixth, Cinzori was flied out to center field, but teammate Ah Yat was able to run home for another UH run to make it 7-2, UH.

With one last chance to seize the overall series, UC San Diego tried to rally in the seventh. Emma Umemura blasted a double home run to center field to bring in teammate Hermosillo; however, three of the next four Tritons were grounded out to end the comeback.

Doubleheader Game 2 (5/3/2025): 4-3 UH

UH struck first in the final game of the series with a Thomas RBI single that was enough to bring in Murakami in the first with two outs.

After a scoreless second inning, UCSD would strike back and score all three of its runs in that third inning. With two outs, Jimenez hit an RBI double to bring in Alexa DeMarse. A Hill RBI single was enough to bring in Jimenez and Garcia to put UCSD in front, 3-1, but from that point on, it was all UH.

When it was UH's turn, Thomas hit her second RBI single of the day that was enough to score Murakami. They would tie the score up on a Cinzori RBI ground out that brought in teammate Kennedy Thompson.

After a scoreless fourth inning, UH would get the final say in the bottom of the fifth when McGaughey whacked her 11th home run of the season to make it 4-3, UH. Pitcher Macy Brandl would retire six of the next seven Tritons; she only gave up a walk on Elise Nishimura in the top of the sixth.

Despite sweeping the doubleheader, UH was still placed at the bottom of a four-way tie for second place in the final Big West standings with Long Beach State, UC Santa Barbara, and Cal State Northridge at 17-10 apiece. UH did improve to 31-18 overall though. They will take on Long Beach State in the Big West Tournament on Wednesday, May 7 at 10 a.m. HST at Fullerton's Anderson Field.

After the sweep, seniors Chloe Borges, Alyssa Nakagawa, Izabella Martinez, Addison Kostrencich, and Liliana Thomas were all honored. Coach Bob Coolen was also honored, as he phased into retirement after 34 years as head coach.