Kaia Parnaby is looking to make the best of a tough break.

A week ago, Parnaby was cruising along against Long Beach State when a comebacker struck her in the face and broke her nose. She sat out the following day as Hawaii was swept in the Big West doubleheader.

Rather than dwell on the misfortune, the senior pitcher prefers to consider what she can gain out of the otherwise painful experience.

"I’ve been speaking to the girls and some of us look at it as a blessing in disguise that I did get a week off," Parnaby said. "My arm did get to rest two extra games; you could see that helping us later in the season. That’s two extra games I’ll have up my sleeve.

"I’m looking at it in a different light than, ‘I missed two games, that sucks.’ I’m looking at it as, ‘Where can I go from there and what are the good things that can come of this.’ "

Still bruised but medically cleared, Parnaby is aiming to return to the circle today when the University of Hawaii softball team opens a three-game Big West series against UC Santa Barbara.

UH (38-10, 15-3 BWC) fell to No. 19 in the USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 poll and No. 23 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 following last week’s series loss to LBSU. But the Rainbow Wahine remain in control of the conference title chase, with LBSU 21⁄2 games behind and Pacific three games back with six to play.

The race for the Big West crown and the accompanying NCAA Regional berth adds to what promises to be an emotional final home series for UH’s heralded senior class of Parnaby, Tara Anguiano, Brynne Buchanan, Jessica Iwata and Kelly Majam.

"We have to stay focused and we have to have a weekend to remember, and it starts Friday night," UH head coach Bob Coolen said. "It can’t just be a senior weekend to say farewell. It has to be a signature weekend where we leave here feeling as though we’ve done everything we could have at home to make our season successful.

"There’s things riding on a lot of outcomes, but, as I always say, we need to focus on what we need to do."

Parnaby’s injury did save her some innings, having thrown 263 (18 short of the school record) so far this spring while going 34-4 with a 1.30 earned-run average. She threw a bullpen session on Tuesday and plans to return to game action with her nose taped but without a protective mask.

"The doctors gave me the option, they said I didn’t have to (wear a mask) if I didn’t want to," said Parnaby, who tried out a pink tape job to match the theme of Saturday’s "Power in Pink" doubleheader.

"I feel like if I wore a mask I’d know something was wrong. But once you get in the zone I’m not going to know I’ve got a broken nose. To me, it doesn’t faze me."

She’s gone through this before, having taken a line drive in the face during fall practice her freshman year.

"I also see it as an omen," she said. "I broke my face my freshman year, and now I’m doing it my senior year. Freshman year we went to the world series. Is it going to happen again? Time will tell."

While the seniors will command much of the attention this weekend, two underclassmen lead the Wahine at the plate, with freshman right fielder Keiki Carlos and junior second baseman Jazmine Zamora tied for team-high honors at .333. Carlos brings a 14-game hitting streak into the series, six games away from the record set by Stacey Porter in 2003.

UCSB (28-21, 9-9) enters the series fourth in the Big West and is making the trip to Hawaii for the second straight year. Parnaby earned a win in UH’s 5-0 win over the Gauchos in last season’s Bank of Hawaii Invitational.

"We did beat them, but that doesn’t mean a thing this year," Coolen said.