HONOLULU — Six Hawaii softball players received recognition in the Big West Conference postseason awards announced Tuesday, highlighted by first-team honors for second baseman Maya Nakamura and catcher Izabella Martinez.

Nakamura, a second-teamer the last two seasons, led the Rainbow Wahine with a .390 batting average and a .531 on-base percentage. The Roosevelt High alumna reached base safely in 45 of 50 games played and scored a team-high 35 runs.

Martinez, of Garden Grove, Calif., enjoyed a breakout year as a sophomore, hitting .343 with a team-best .587 slugging percentage. She hit nine home runs and struck out just four times on the season, the latter of which was best in the conference for a lineup regular.

Izzy Martinez struck out just four times on the season, best in the Big West. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

Ace Brianna Lopez, a first-teamer as a freshman in 2022, made the second team in her second season. In 31 appearances, the Riverside, Calif., native had 17 complete games, five shutouts and one no-hitter. She had a 2.43 earned-run average after 2.07 as a freshman and went 16-12 to last year’s 14-8.

UH’s new shortstop, Oregon State transfer Xiao Gin, was named an honorable mention, as was designated player Haley Johnson. Gin hit .277 in the leadoff spot with 33 runs scored. Johnson, of San Diego, hit .305 with a team-best 11 doubles and 43 RBIs.

Key-Annah Campbell-Pua made the BWC All-Freshman team as the Wahine’s second pitcher. Campbell-Pua, of Nipomo, Calif., had a 3.06 ERA with nine complete games, including a no-hitter, in 21 appearances.

UC Davis utility standout Anna Dethlefson was named BWC Player of the Year, a first for the Aggies. Cal State Fullerton got the Pitcher of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in Myka Sutherlin and Alexa Neil.

Long Beach State’s Kim Sowder was named Coach of the Year for the fifth time.

UH finished tied for fifth with UC Santa Barbara at 13-14 in conference (30-23 overall). Long Beach State (21-6 BWC) surged past Cal State Fullerton (20-7) on the final weekend of the regular season for the conference championship and automatic NCAA tournament berth. CSUF gained an at-large berth to the NCAAs.

Third-place Cal State Northridge (19-8) and fourth-place UC Davis (15-12) accepted berths to appear in the eight-team National Invitational Softball Championship.

Brianna Lopez couldn't quite match her numbers from her first-team freshman season but still made the BWC second team. (Spectrum News/Brian McInnis)

Brian McInnis covers the state's sports scene for Spectrum News Hawaii. He can be reached at brian.mcinnis@charter.com.