A rare season of struggle behind him, University of Hawaii softball coach Bob Coolen is looking forward to a busy summer.

Usually Coolen devotes his summer recruiting tour to looking for players to add to the program two years down the line and beyond. This time he’ll also search for immediate help.

Coolen hopes to add another pitcher to the 2015 roster as the Rainbow Wahine look to bounce back from a 22-28 season, just the third losing campaign in Coolen’s 23 years as head coach.

Coolen said he’s reached out to his contacts in Australia and will keep watch for available pitchers during his travels this summer to bolster a staff that ran thin for much of the season.

Coolen will get a jump on recruiting in early June with a trip to Southern California for a recruiting combine and a camp in Las Vegas to get a look at potential prospects.

"I have to see them," said Coolen, who scouted pitchers in Australia last year. "Videos lie and it’s not a good indicator as to the pop on the ball."

After UH posted a 4.78 earned-run average this season, the offseason progress of freshman Brittany Hitchcock will also shape UH’s pitching outlook next year.

Hitchcock was projected to lead the rotation this spring but suffered a back injury in December and applied for a medical hardship. She underwent surgery in March and could start pitching again in September.

Her absence placed the load on freshman Heather Morales (12-11, 5.11) and sophomore Loie Kesterson (10-14, 4.08). There were promising stretches — including a run of 202⁄3 scoreless innings to start the season — but consistency was elusive as UH opponents hit .320.

UH signed Australian pitcher Amelia Cudicio in the fall, but it’s uncertain whether she’ll enroll for next year. The Wahine will add an accomplished freshman in the field with the arrival of catcher/third baseman Rachel Lack, a member of Australia’s national team. The Wahine also signed catcher/third baseman Lorena Ruiz.

They’ll join a UH roster that hit a collective .276 and led the Big West with 58 home runs. Opposing pitchers had a 4.12 ERA against UH, but the Wahine often found themselves playing from behind or struggling to hold leads late.

UH’s top two hitters return in junior Leisha Li‘ili‘i (.401, 15 home runs) and sophomore Keiki Carlos (.296, 11 doubles). Li‘ili‘i and Kayla Wartner (.258, seven HRs) will anchor next year’s senior class.

Four freshmen established starting roles. Center fielder Lindsey Willmon was second on the team with 11 homers, while shortstop Sarina Jaramillo made the Big West’s All-Freshman team.

"You look at some of the (freshmen) and a year of experience is a good thing," Coolen said. "But pitching is such the key element."

Getting all three phases of the game to mesh remained a challenge during a 7-14 run in the Big West. The returnees will try to build on those lessons while looking ahead to next season.

"Especially for the underclassmen we just have to take it as a learning experience," Carlos said prior to UH’s final series. "My mind-set since the beginning has always been to try to be positive and see the good in what the bad has to offer."