Coolen gets No. 500
on Tabion’s shutout

Hawaii softball coach Bob Coolen posted his 500th victory with the Rainbow Wahine with a 6-0 win over Eastern Illinois last night at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. But he probably won't let himself savor the milestone until after the season.

"I would say at our banquet we'll probably reminisce about when the 500th win came," Coolen said after receiving a plaque commemorating the event. "It's a special event for the players because they're such a big part of it, the seniors had a big part of getting to 500, for themselves and the program."

Hawaii improved to 16-13 overall and 2-0 in the Bank of Hawaii Invitational with the win over the Panthers (3-9, 0-3).

Coolen picked up win No. 499 with a 3-2 victory over Winthrop on Thursday and the Wahine were aware of what was at stake last night.

"We didn't make a big deal about it before the game because we didn't want to get too excited," senior catcher Denise Dahlberg said. "It was important to just stay relaxed and get the win for him."

UH's all-time winningest coach enters today's action with a 500-324 mark in 14 seasons in Manoa. He coached five years at Bentley (Mass.) before joining the UH program as an assistant coach in 1990 and has a career record of 572-417.

Senior pitcher Shannon Tabion, who had a hand in 35 of those wins in her UH career, struck out seven in tossing a four-hit shutout. Dahlberg went 3-for-4 with a triple, while sophomore Jennifer Hackett drove in two runs.

"(Dahlberg) put it together tonight and Tabs came out and pitched a shutout, you can't script it any better," Coolen said. "It was good they all had a hand in it because it's special for them to remember."

Hawaii, designated the visiting team, got on the board in the top of the second on Hackett's groundout to score Ashley Ruff from third. The Wahine added two more runs in the fourth when Dahlberg scored on a balk and Ruff drove in Dena DePompa with a sacrifice fly to right field.

UH plated three runs in the sixth, with Hackett and Alana Power delivering run-scoring hits.

Tabion didn't allow a runner past second base and struck out Cassandra North to end the game.

"She had control of her pitches, she didn't try to do too much, which was good, and threw all her pitches really well," Dahlberg said.

Eastern Illinois lost to San Diego 6-3 in the game preceding the nightcap. The tournament continues today and tomorrow with five games, starting at 9 a.m.

Hawaii plays Miami (Ohio) at 3 p.m. and Loyola Marymount at 5. The Wahine close the tournament tomorrow against San Diego at 3 p.m. and Tokyo Women's College of P.E. at 5.