The Hawaii softball team faced a challenging weekend with a rainout and an abbreviated Big West series, along with a potential injury to senior star Maya Nakamura. Nakamura, a first-team All-Big West performer last season, left the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader against Cal Poly with left knee trouble. Despite her absence, freshman Madixx Muramoto stepped up and hit her first career home run, a three-run shot that tied the game at 3.
After multiple rain delays, Cal Poly managed to salvage a split on the day by winning the second game 6-5. The series opener was won by UH 3-2 after it was resumed on Saturday morning, while the third game was canceled. Nakamura was seen moving around on crutches with her left knee wrapped after the game, and an MRI was scheduled for the following day to assess the extent of her injury.
Despite the challenges, UH showed resilience with pitcher Addison Kostrencich going the distance in Game 1 and national batting average leader Jessica Clements hitting two solo home runs. The Wahine are currently in fourth place in the Big West standings with five series remaining. They will look to bounce back as they head to UC Riverside next weekend.
Coach Bob Coolen praised Muramoto for her performance and encouraged her to continue showcasing her power at the plate. The team will need to regroup and refocus as they push towards the end of the season and aim for a strong finish in the Big West conference.