HONOLULU — Addison Kostrencich helped Long Beach State win Big West softball titles in 2021 and 2023 from behind the scenes.

On Friday night, the senior served notice that she plans to do the same thing, but in a starring role for Hawaii.

Kostrencich, who threw batting practice and simulated opponents for the Beach, tamed her former team in a 6-1 Rainbow Wahine win over the preseason BWC favorite to open conference play at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

“That was her role for three years, and she just had enough of that role and she wanted to pitch,” UH coach Bob Coolen said.

Kostrencich (8-4) grew into the ace role for UH her junior season but lost both meetings to the Beach at the LBSU Softball Complex late in the season.

This time, the right-hander from Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., was all smiles as she exited the circle to high-fives from teammates, having tossed a seven-hitter with two walks and two strikeouts.

She pitched to contact and let her defense go to work as UH improved to 15-8 overall.

“Long Beach is a great program. I mean, hats off to them,” Kostrencich said. “They threw up a fight the entire game. … I knew that I wanted it more than anything, my team really had my back this game, so I'm so grateful for (them).”

Coolen said he noticed a higher-than-usual level of focus from his ace heading into the LBSU series — the first in some time at the front end of the conference schedule.

“Addie pretty much took it easy all week. She knew her body,” he said. “She said, ‘I need a break,’ and we gave her a break, and she pitched well, really well.”

Kostrencich shouted out second baseman Carys Murakami among her transformed infield and left fielder Kayara-Leigh Tuiloma for defensive gems.

Shannon Haddad (4-2) took the loss for LBSU (9-9). Avery Weisbrook had her team’s lone run on a solo shot to centerfield in the fourth.

Chloe Borges answered with her third homer of the season in the bottom of the frame and Liliana Thomas, a Loyola Marymount transfer from Kailua, launched a two-run bomb in the fifth.

“This is something that we've known we can do, but we really put it together tonight, and it's something we'll continue throughout Big West,” Kostrencich said.

The teams are set to decide the three-game series with a doubleheader at 2 and 4 p.m. Saturday at RWSS. Macy Brandl could gets the nod in Game 1 of the day with Kostrencich likely to throw in Game 2.

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