Irimata Goes the Distance as Rainbow Wahine Open 2026 With Win

MANOA – The Hawai‘i Rainbow Wahine opened the 2026 season with a gritty 2–1 victory over the Seattle U Redhawks on Thursday night, earning head coach Panita Thanatharn her first win in her debut at the helm of the program.

Hawai‘i struck early in the bottom of the first inning when Milan Ah Yat delivered a two-run single, bringing home Cierra Yamamoto and pinch runner Rhea Furtado. The early cushion proved decisive in a tightly contested pitchers’ duel that followed.

From there, the game belonged to Taryn Irimata inside the circle. Making her first appearance in a Rainbow Wahine uniform after returning home, Irimata went the distance, tossing a complete game while allowing just one run on three hits. She worked through traffic, issuing three walks, but limited damage and finished with two strikeouts over seven innings to secure the win.

Seattle U’s lone run came in the fourth inning following a two-out walk that later turned into a run, a moment Thanatharn pointed to as a teaching opportunity rather than a turning point.

“Walks kill us,” Thanatharn said postgame. “I just wanted to remind her it was her game — attack the hitters and trust your defense”.

Thanatharn acknowledged the emotions surrounding her debut, calling the win meaningful but crediting the collective effort behind it.

“A W is always good, but I’m just very grateful for this opportunity to lead this team,” Thanatharn said. “These players have been working their butts off, as has our staff. It’s just fun to finally play somebody else”.

Offensively, Hawai‘i collected four hits, including singles from Abby Sasaki and Ellyanna Cinzori, but struggled to build momentum after the opening frame. Thanatharn noted the team became “a little cold” at the plate, emphasizing the need to sustain pressure as the season progresses.

For Irimata, the night was about more than just the stat line. After returning home and stepping back into competition following injury, the senior described the moment as both emotional and validating.

Irimata spent the previous two seasons at Nevada and received a medical redshirt in 2025, making her complete-game performance in her Rainbow Wahine debut all the more meaningful.

“I’m just proud of us for staying through it,” Irimata said. “We work really hard every day, and I think it just paid off. Playing at home in front of my family — it was a game changer”.

She also credited Thanatharn’s steady presence during key moments, including a brief mid-inning visit that helped her refocus down the stretch.

“She just reminded me this was my game,” Irimata said. “What I was doing was working. Even if it wasn’t my best day, nothing changed”

Hawai‘i improves to 1–0 on the season, while Seattle U drops to 1–1. The Rainbow Wahine will continue opening-week in the Bank of Hawai’i Paradise Classic with matchups against North Dakota and Pacific on Friday.