Series Notes

HONOLULU—The No. 21/25 University of Hawai'i softball team (22-9, 0-0 WAC) begins its defense of their Western Athletic Conference titles against Utah State (5-23, 0-0 WAC). The two teams will square off this Friday and Saturday at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.

 

Hawai'i completed its non-conference schedule this past week, going 1-4 in the Chevron Spring Fling Tournament. The 'Bows were led by freshman catcher Sharla Kliebenstein and sophomore centerfielder Kelly Majam who both earned all-tourney honors.

 

Overall, the Rainbow Wahine are led by senior utility player Jenna Rodriguez's .333 average (32-fo-96). She leads UH with 32 hits and has four doubles, two home runs, and 19 RBI. Rodriguez is one of six UH players to start all 31 games. Sophomore shortstop Jessica Iwata is hitting .313 (30-for-96) and leads the squad with 28 runs scored and 10 home runs, while Kliebenstein is hitting .306 (23-for-85) with a team-high 26 RBI. She is also tied for the team-high with five doubles and is second with nine home runs.

 

On the mound, junior pitcher Stephanie Ricketts (13-7) has seen the majority of the workload for the 'Bows. She has fired 137.0 innings with a 1.43 ERA. She has 19 complete games in 22 starts and has six shut-outs under her belt thus far this season. Ricketts has held opponents to a .170 batting average while walking 38 batters and striking out 157. This past week against Iona in a nine inning, 1-0 loss, she struck out a career-high 13 batters. Sophomore southpaw Kaia Parnaby is 8-2 this season with a 1.20 ERA. She has a pair of shut-outs and has thrown 64.0 innings with 14 walks and 77 strike outs.

 

The Aggies are 5-23 and are looking to snap a 10-game losing streak against the 'Bows. Freshman Kassandra Uchida is leading Utah State with a .329 average (23-for-70) and has three doubles, a home run and nine runs scored. Senior catcher Shasta Tyteca is second on the team with a .320 average (16-for-50) with nine runs scored, two doubles and a home run. But look out for Kelly Kaneshiro who is hitting .281 and leads the Aggies with 11 runs scored, four doubles and five home runs.

 

The Utah State pitching staff is comprised of four players, led by sophomore Mandy Harmon who has thrown 97.1 innings with a 5.47 ERA and a 4-15 record. She has walked 57 with 56 strike outs. Dani Chaplin is 0-4 this year with a 6.75 ERA in 28.0 innings while Shelbi Tyteca is 1-4 with a 8.27 ERA in 42.1 innings pitched. Kali Cancelosi has also seen spot action on the mound, throwing 3.2 innings.

 

 

What: No. 21/25 Hawai'i (22-9) vs. Utah State (5-23)

When: Friday, March 25 at 6:00 pm; Saturday, March 26 at 4:00 pm (doubleheader)

Where: Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium

Radio: All three games will be aired locally on ESPN 1500 am with Scott Robbs calling the action.

Audio Webcast: Unavailable
Live Stats: Live in-game stats are available at http://www.sidearmstats.com/hawaii/softball/index.htm

Promotions: Phiten is the series sponsor. Fans can win Phiten necklaces by playing “Ballpark Bingo”

Ticket Information: Admission is FREE

Coaches: Hawai'i head coach Bob Coolen is 811-530-1 overall in his 25th season and 739-437-1 in his 20th season at UH. Utah State's Carissa Millsap-Kalaba is 168-142 overall in her sixth season as head coach. She is 25-49 in her second season with the Aggies.

Series Record: 28-14 UH has won last 13. Last season, the 'Bows swept a snow-shortened two-game series, 12-4 and 18-8 in Logan, Utah.

 

                                                                                                           -UH-