The Hawaii softball team's 2024 season came to a close Friday at the Big West Championship in Fullerton, California, following two hard-fought losses that showcased the team's grit until the very end.

"Tough one. Like I told the girls, I liked their battle, I liked their fight. Just wasn't our day," first-year UH head coach Panita Thanatharn said in a postgame news conference, reflecting on a season of growth and resilience.

In the opening game, the Rainbow Wahine faced top-seeded Cal State Fullerton and appeared poised for a comeback. But with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, Titans' Colby McClinton delivered a walk-off, two-run homer to seal a 6-4 victory. Trisha McCleskey was dominant in relief, tossing five scoreless innings for Fullerton. Millie Fidge led Hawaii's offense, going 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, and two RBIs.

The second game brought more heartbreak as No. 3 seed UC Santa Barbara defeated Hawaii 8-6. Bella Fuentes drove in three runs, while Tehya Banks crossed the plate three times for the Gauchos. Hawaii's Keely Kai crushed a three-run homer, and Kayara Tuiloma added two RBIs, but the Rainbow Wahine couldn't close the gap.

"This season was great overall," UH pitcher Hannah Pitts said. "Looking back, we definitely had a lot of fun and a lot of memories. At the end of the day, that's what we're going to think about when we're older."

The tournament marked the final games for seven seniors: Ellyanna Cinzori, Fidge, Maycen Gibbs, Larissa Goshi, Carys Murakami, Pitts, and Cierra Yamamoto. Their leadership and fight defined a season that, while ending earlier than hoped, left an indelible mark on the program.