Sometimes it’s the little things that matter most.

From the periphery, seasons and careers are measured in records and statistics. For those directly involved, moments outside of view tend to endure more prominently than the numbers.

“Just the friendships, the little things, the interactions in the locker room, traveling … I think that’s going to stick the most,” Hawaii senior Keiki Carlos said of her four years with the Rainbow Wahine softball program.

“I think that’s what we’re going to cherish for a lot longer than what happened on the field.”

UH’s five seniors will make their final on-field appearances at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium in a three-game series against Cal Poly to close the home schedule. The Wahine (21-27, 5-10 Big West) and Mustangs (23-21, 6-9) play a single game today at 6 p.m. and a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m. on Saturday with the traditional senior sendoff set to follow the final out.

Carlos, Tayana Mata, Sarah McAndrew, Dori Ann Sugai and Kiani Wong will officially end their UH careers next week at Long Beach State. But the final home appearance never fails to resonate with the honorees.

“Being able to represent our home means a lot,” said Sugai, a Moanalua graduate. “Wearing ‘Hawaii’ on our jerseys, we’re representing our state and not everyone gets that opportunity. So it’s something special we hold close to our hearts that we get to play for something bigger than ourselves.”

Wong, Carlos and Sugai will graduate this semester with degrees in family resources, with Mata to follow in the summer. McAndrew is also close to completing her degree work in communications. They’ll be in Long Beach next week during UH’s spring commencement ceremony, so UH coach Bob Coolen said the team will hold a program of its own on the road to honor the graduates.

The local products agreed that UH’s run to the 2010 Women’s College World Series solidified their college goals. The same applied for Mata, who followed the Wahine from her home in Northern California.

Mata, whose father was raised on the Big Island, labeled UH her “dream school,” and containing the emotion of this week’s series figures to be a challenge.

“I’m gonna try to keep it in as long as possible. I’m going to try to make a goal of it,” Mata declared before admitting, “but it’s not gonna work.”

After transferring from Sierra College, Mata has started 65 games at second base while sharing playing time with Sugai and is hitting a team-best .371 in Big West play going into the Cal Poly series.

McAndrew carved out a role as a runner off the bench and a vocal presence in the dugout and found more than she expected while looking for an opportunity to play Division I softball coming out of Santa Ana College.

“I didn’t realize this was where I belonged until I got here,” McAndrew said. “Until I was a part of this and saw what it was like to live in Hawaii and met the girls and met the team and it’s the best decision I ever made.”

Wong, the younger sister of former UH standout and current St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong, was poised to contribute in the outfield this season before tearing two ligaments in her knee three weeks before the opener. She remained engaged by “being there for my team on a whole new level. Being a support system that they can come to.”

The Kamehameha-Hawaii graduate said she’s participated in recent practices and hopes to make an appearance this weekend.

The four-year seniors represent the final holdovers from UH’s last postseason appearance, a 2013 berth in the NCAA Regional at Washington after winning a Big West title that remains Carlos’ most treasured on-field accomplishment.

A career .300 hitter, she enters this week’s series leading the team at .290 overall, having started 209 of UH’s last 210 games, including 179 in right field.

“Lead by example, show up every day, work hard and that’s been her MO since Day 1,” Coolen said. “And she was one of those local kids who didn’t want to go away. When I was recruiting her she wanted to stay home.”

With just three home games left, savoring the remaining moments on the field will be among the seniors’ priorities over the next two days.

“I didn’t think this day would every come and I hoped we could push it back a little bit more,” Carlos said. “But it’s surreal that it’s actually here and it’s our turn.”