HONOLULU — In a series in which the Hawaii softball team could not afford anything less than a sweep, Mya’Liah Bethea broke out the biggest broomstick.

The senior slugger swatted a home run in all three Rainbow Wahine victories over Cal State Bakersfield over the weekend, tallying eight RBIs for the series, to earn her second career Big West Player of the Week honor on Monday.

Bethea, a 5-foot-4 Las Vegas native, equaled her career high in long balls for a season with 12. That leads all Big West players by a margin of four in 2024.

“It was definitely a struggle in the recent series (before Bakersfield) but I think that it’s just trying to remember everything that’s got me here,” Bethea told Spectrum News after Saturday’s 7-2 and 8-4 doubleheader sweep at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. “Trying to get back to the basics and really refocus on whatever kinks I had to work out.”

Coach Bob Coolen said her power surge – she has five homers in the last six games – has been what he’s waited to see from her throughout her four-year UH career.

Coolen said, “She’s so strong. She has to engage her lower part.” He added that her belief in hitting her bread and butter, the outside pitch, is key.

Fourth-place UH (18-19, 11-5) plays a huge series this week at second-place Long Beach State (19-25, 14-4), the former school of UH ace Addison Kostrencich (11-6), who pitched two complete games against CSUB. UH is two games behind leader Cal State Fullerton (15-3) in the loss column; UH will see CSUF for its final home series in two weeks.

“This sweep was really momentous for us, so I think just keeping that energy up as much as we can (is key),” Bethea said. “It will go a long way in the next series coming up.”

Bethea batted .667 in the series against the struggling Roadrunners (4-36, 2-16 BWC). She got off to a hot start with a season-best 3-for-3 outing with a grand slam on Friday.

She plays a utility role on defense. This season, that has been primarily left field.

Bethea is second in the Big West in slugging percentage (.674) and fourth in OPS (on base plus slugging) at 1.004. However, her batting average had dipped to .217 prior to the Bakersfield series (it is back up to .261).

She has not struck out in the last six games.

“I’m just grateful the coaches stuck with me and teammates stuck with me in supporting me throughout that struggle,” Bethea said. “Just not losing that hope, and that drive has really helped putting it all together.”

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