GAME NOTES
HONOLULU - The University of Hawai'i softball team (24-21, 10-5 WAC) returns home to host the New Mexico State Aggies (29-15, 9-5 WAC) in a pivotal conference match up. The 'Bows are coming off their final regular season roadtrip in which they went 4-1 combined against San Jose State and Santa Clara.
Currently, Hawai'i is tied for second with Fresno State at 10-5 in the Western Athletic Conference's standings, just a half-game behind league-leader, Nevada. The Aggies are just a half-game behind UH and FSU at 9-5. This weekend's battle will most likely have bearing on WAC Tournament seeding, so games this weekend are crucial.
Last time out...
The Rainbow Wahine captured the three-game series against San Jose State by winning two games, then swept a doubleheader at Santa Clara this past Monday to close their roadtrip. In the series against the Spartans, the 'Bows dropped the first game, 5-4 on Friday, but bounced back to take both games of Saturday's doubleheader.
At SJSU, senior outfielder,
Audrey Andrade hit .600 to lead UH. She went 6-for-10 with two doubles and her first career grand slam. Freshmen
Dara Pagaduan and
Makani Duhaylonsod-Kaleimamahu both had solid series. Pagaduan was 5-for-10 at the plate and hit for the cycle in the series with a double, a triple, and a home run. She also drove in five key runs and scored three on her own. Duhaylonsod-Kaleimamahu hit .333 (4-for-12)--three of her four hits were home runs against the Spartans.
On the mound, freshman
Stephanie Ricketts continued to shoulder most of the workload, firing 15.1 innings in the series and went 1-1 against SJSU. She made appearances in all three games, but gave up 10 runs on 20 hits with six strike outs. Sophomore
Melissa Gonzalez, still coming off an injured foot, picked up her first career conference victory, throwing three-plus innings giving up just one run on four hits. It was her first appearance on the mound since Feb. 14 in Las Vegas, Nev. against Kentucky. Gonzalez also went 2-for-2 at the plate against the Spartans.
Against Santa Clara, UH's offense tallied 21 runs on 31 hits—including six doubles and seven home runs—in the two combined games.
Amanda Tauali'i and
Tanisha Milca both launched a pair of homers, while
Traci Yoshikawa (first career grand slam), #Clare Warwick,
and Kanani Pu'u-Warren# all hit one a piece.
The Book on the 'Bows...
Overall it is Tauali'i remains the leader of the Rainbow Wahine offense with a .362 average (47-for-130) and team-highs in triples (3), home runs (15), RBI (36), and slugging percentage (.815). Tauali'i moved into a tie for fourth all-time in UH history for single-season home runs with former Hawai'i All-Americans Stacey Porter and Tyleen Tausaga. Senior
Tanisha Milca is still hitting at a career-best pace of .333 (52-for-156). She leads the team with 52 hits, 36 runs scored, and 10 doubles, and is second on the squad with 10 home runs and 27 RBI. Coming on strong is Duhaylonsod-Kaleimamahu who is hitting .280 (30-for-107) with five double and five home runs and 18 RBI.
On the mound, there is no question that the freshman, Ricketts, is Hawai'i's number one pitcher on the staff. She is now 17-8 overall and 9-3 in conference with a 1.87 ERA in 194.2 innings pitched. The emergence of
Melissa Gonzalez back on the mound is good news for UH down the stretch, she is now 1-3 this season with 11.2 innings pitched and senior
Courtney Baughman looks to regain her form in these last few games of the season. She is now 6-8 this year with a 3.32 ERA in 88.2 innings pitched.
HAWAI'I vs. NEW MEXICO STATE SERIES
What: Hawai'i (24-21, 10-5 WAC) vs. New Mexico State (29-15, 9-5 WAC)
When: Friday, April 24 at 6:00 pm; Saturday, April 25 at 2:00 pm (DH)
Where: Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium (Admission is FREE)
Television: All three games of the series will be televised on KFVE The Home Team. Jim Leahey will
handle play-by-play and Lori Santi will cover the color commentary.
Streaming Video: Live video streaming is available on uhstreaming.oceanic.com.
Live Stats: Live in-game stats are available at HawaiiAthletics.com
Coaches: Bob Coolen (UH: 661-409-1; Overall: 733-502-1) is in his 18th year at UH. New Mexico State's
Kathy Rodolf (NMSU: 155-181; Overall 351-273) is in her sixth season with the Aggies.
Series Information: UH leads the series, 31-12. Last season the 'Bows dropped the series opener,
1-4, but came back to win the series with two important wins.
SCOUTING THE NEW MEXICO STATE AGGIES
Current Record: 29-15 Overall; 9-5 WAC
Head Coach: Kathy Rodolf (MNSU: New Mexico State's Kathy Rodolf (NMSU: 155-181; Overall 351-273) is in her sixth season with the Aggies.
NMSU Last time out...
The Aggies have been busy. This past weekend NMSU first swept Boise State in Las Cruces, winning by scores of 8-4, 10-9, and 8-4 on Friday and Saturday. Then the Aggies traveled to Logan, Utah to make up an earlier snowed out series against Utah State. New Mexico State swept the doubleheader on Monday (5-4 and 10-0 in five innings), but then fell in the series finale, 1-4. The loss snapped the Aggies' eight-game win streak.
