Over the years, the University of Hawaii softball team pressured opposing pitchers with one-through-nine power.

The Rainbow Wahine enter the 2017 season — Bob Coolen’s 26th as head coach — still featuring home run threats in the middle of the order, but with an added dose of speed to keep defenses on edge.

“It’s something that has evolved,” Coolen said. “It was a good mix of people who came into our program.”

UH’s new-look lineup opens the season with five games in the three-day Paradise Classic at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium, starting with a doubleheader today against Sacramento State and Boise State. The Wahine face Oregon State on Friday and close the tournament Saturday against Boise State and UAB.

The Wahine have 10 newcomers on the 23-player roster and Coolen could write in five on the lineup card, starting right at the top with North Carolina transfer Danielle Garcielita, a junior center fielder whose speed helped her secure the leadoff spot.

Coolen said the Wahine have the potential of fielding a lineup with seven left-handed hitters surrounding sophomore third baseman Nicole Lopez and senior first baseman Heather Morales in the middle of the order.

“We’re hoping the speed wreaks havoc. That’s what we’re looking at,” Coolen said.

Lopez, who hit a team-best .287 as a freshman, moves into a run-producing role she thrived in as an All-State performer at Mid-Pacific. She’s slated to hit third in the order, followed by Morales.

“I was the second batter last year, so it was more of moving them over,” Lopez said. “(Hitting third is) more comfortable.

“It’s a different look, definitely different than last year. Hopefully (the Wahine have) more stolen bases this year.”

While the batting order features some new faces, the pitching staff returns junior Brittany Hitchcock and senior Kanani Aina Cabrales for their third year as UH’s starting duo.

Aina Cabrales said she’s set 20 wins as a personal goal this season as the Wahine, voted fifth in the Big West preseason coaches poll, look to bounce back from a 24-30 2016 season.

“I feel there’s a lot of improvement to be made, and with our new team, with our speed and our power and the new additions to our pitching staff, I definitely feel we can do great things this year,” Aina Cabrales said.

“Our team chemistry is super close. You’re always going to be competitive in any position on the field, but it’s more of being able to cheer them on and being sincere and genuine about it, because we really do care about each other. Not just as players but on a personal level.”

Coolen enters the season seven wins shy of 1,000 for his career, 72 coming during a five-year run at Bentley and 921 over the last 25 seasons at UH. He also is heading into the final season of his contract and is in the “talking phase” with UH athletic director David Matlin on an extension.

“Just trying to stay focused on the goals that we’ve set for our team and June 30 will come and hopefully I’ll have something by then,” Coolen said.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

INFIELD

The Wahine have power and experience at the corners with senior Heather Morales returning at first base and sophomore Nicole Lopez at third. Morales hit a team-best .331 as a sophomore, struggled with injuries early last year but closed the season by hitting .291 in Big West play.

Lopez was named Big West Freshman Field Player of the Year after hitting .287 with five home runs and driving in 23 runs. Her walk-off homer against Cal Poly on senior day was one of last season’s signature moments. She missed the fall exhibitions due to a fracture in her foot but was cleared before the start of practice in early January.

Sophomore Sarah Muzik takes over at second base after spending much of last season in the outfield. A left-handed slapper, she hit .284 at the top of the order last season and joined Lopez on the Big West All-Freshman team.

Freshman Angelique “Cheeks” Ramos will get the first look at shortstop and hit sixth after a competition with fellow newcomer Laura Jaquez. Ramos hit .538 with seven home runs as a high school senior.

Junior Rachael Turner, who started 37 games last season, backs up Morales at first and is contending for the designated player spot after a strong showing in preseason scrimmages.

OUTFIELD

Danielle Garcielita, a speedy 5-foot-1 junior center fielder, was primarily a pinch runner at North Carolina the past two years and will have an opportunity to ignite the UH offense in the leadoff spot.

Jordian Hicks stole 51 bases the past two seasons at Santiago Canyon Junior College and joined the competition in left field with sophomore Jennifer Iseri. Coolen said Iseri, who made eight starts in left last season, hit close to .400 in recent scrimmages.

Keiki Carlos closed her four-year run in right field last season. Senior Ulu Matagiese started 45 games in center field last season and moves to right this spring. Coolen describes freshman Bree Soma, an All-State selection at Maryknoll, as a “power slapper” who brings speed and versatility to the bottom of the order.

CATCHERS

Freshman Callee Heen provides power potential in the fifth spot in the lineup after hitting .609 with 16 home runs in 29 games as a high school senior.

She will share time with sophomore Heather Cameron, who started 27 games last season. Cameron hit .152 last year and launched a walk-off homer against Chaminade in the Kamaaina Tournament in the fall. Santa Clara transfer Justine Garner joined the mix in the fall.

PITCHERS

Junior Brittany Hitchcock (13-15, 2.18 earned-run average) allowed the fewest walks per seven innings in the nation with just 15 in 177 innings. Primarily working low in the zone, she posted 103 strikeouts and her ERA dropped to 1.72 in Big West play while earning second-team all-conference honors for the second straight season. She again spent part of her summer facing international competition with Puerto Rico’s national team.

Senior Kanani Aina Cabrales (8-11, 3.45) struck out 77 while making 17 starts last season and could play a more prominent role in the offense as well.

Junior right-hander Dana Thomsen averaged 9.4 strikeouts per seven innings at Santa Rosa Junior College and could be the wild card on the pitching staff, either as a third starter or out of the bullpen.

Morales, Iseri and sophomore Naomi Monahan are also available to pitch. Iseri (3-4, 3.72) made eight starts in 14 appearances last season. Monahan made three appearances last season and Morales last pitched as a sophomore.